With the presidential election coming on the heels of Halloween, Hillary Clintons and Donald Trumps may be as common as superheroes and zombies on Oct. 31.
Perhaps because the race for the White House has been so colorful, candidate masks are selling even better than in 2008, the last time there wasn’t a sitting president seeking re-election, said Dani Santi, operations manager at Costume Castle in Lake Forest.
While Santi said sales of Trump’s and Clinton’s likenesses are about even, others said the Republican candidate is the hotter ticket.
At San Bernardino’s Fun Corner, owner Steve Sutherland said Trump is outselling Clinton two to one. Banning-based Costumeish.com founder Johnathon Weeks said it’s more like three to one.
“He’s more of a character,” Weeks said. “He’s got more outrageous things on his mind that he voices, and they become costumes.”
Controversy isn’t new to Weeks, whose company has made headlines for costumes based on current events, such as 2014’s “sexy ebola inspector” and, more recently, Kim Kardashian’s reported Paris robbery.
This year, Costumeish is offering Donald Taco Trump and “Donald the wall builder” costumes. It’s already sold out of a “Liar, liar, pantsuit on fire” Clinton outfit.
Costume sellers say that, in election years, whichever presidential candidate’s mask is most in demand usually points toward who will win in November.
But this year may buck that trend.
As of Friday, some national polls showed Clinton leading Trump by five or more points.
“This is probably the first time that the best-selling mask is not necessarily an indication,” said Howie Beige, executive vice president of Rubie’s, a 65-year-old New York-based company with affiliates in 15 countries.
He has a few theories about why. In Beige’s experience, most buyers of full-face masks are men, because they’re less inclined to worry about getting sweaty or messing up a hairdo or makeup job, he said.
They may be more hesitant to dress as a woman, and if they buy a Trump mask, they can pair it with a suit in their closet, while they’d need to find a skirt or pantsuit for a Clinton costume.
“It’s a little more of a commitment to wear a Hillary mask,” Beige said.
Sutherland, who will close Fun Corner and retire at the end of November, said it’s hard to say whether most customers pick a mask because they like and want to emulate the candidate, or to mock him or her.
“We don’t ask – we just sell what they want,” he said. “I found a long time ago, you don’t give your opinion.”
TOP POLITICAL COSTUMES
Costume: Donald Taco Trump
Background: In September, the founder of a group of Latino Trump supporters told a TV reporter there would be “taco trucks on every corner” if Latinos’ influence and culture remain unchecked in the U.S. Trump has also been criticized for comments about Mexican immigrants and crime, and for saying a federal judge’s Mexican heritage would bias him in a lawsuit against the candidate.
Available from: Costumeish.com
Costume: Hillary Clinton prison inmate outfit
Background: Clinton critics have suggested the candidate should be jailed for various scandals, including her use of a private email server when she was Secretary of State and destruction of emails. During a debate, Trump also told his opponent if he were elected, “You’d be in jail.”
Available from: eBay
Costume: Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump masks
Background: Candidate costumes are typically good sellers in presidential election years, but some retailers say Clinton and Trump masks are doing better than past candidates. Most stores report the Republican is far outselling the Democrat.
Available from: Various stores, including Fun Corner in San Bernardino, Costume Castle in Lake Forest, and online at Costumeish.com.
Costume: Other political figures
Background: Some costumers say Richard Nixon has been one of their best-selling presidential masks over the years. Historical presidents such as Abraham Lincoln are perennial favorites for school projects. This year, also-rans such as Democrat Bernie Sanders and Republican Chris Christie remain in stock, perhaps because stores place orders early in the year – well before presidential primaries are over.
Available at: Various stores and websites
Contact the writer: 951-368-9461 orarobinson@scng.comTwitter: @arobinson_pe
