Coffee, cola, cookies track U.S. campaign

DETROIT, Nov. 2 (UPI) -- Product-placement polls are humming along in the closing days of the U.S. presidential race, although the results being reported are mixed.

The Detroit Free Press said Sunday while Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama is running ahead of Republican John McCain in the 7-Eleven coffee cup poll, Cindy McCain's oatmeal-butterscotch cookie recipe is outpacing Michelle Obama's shortbread in the Family Circle poll based on recipes.

Former President Bill Clinton entered an oatmeal recipe of his own during the primaries on behalf of his wife, Hillary, but drew poorly in the voting before Mrs. C was eliminated from the race.

The Free Press said the selection of consumer goods earmarked for a particular candidate can be a fairly accurate non-scientific measurement of public attitudes. The coffee poll, for example, went for President Bush last time, although the incumbent won re-election despite a loss by the Washington Redskins the preceding Sunday.

The newspaper noted the Jones soda poll was seeing a surge by dark-horse "Ron Paul Revolution Cola" into second place behind Obama's "Yes, We Can" cola and solidly ahead of "Pure McCain Cola." "Capitol Hillary Cola" was also still on the scoreboard.