First lady bake-off: The other election vote
(CBS News) Why wait until polls open in November? There's another way to pick the president, history's shown: a good old-fashioned bake-off.
For the sixth straight election cycle, Family Circle magazine is pitting the wives of the President and his rival against each other in a "First Lady cookie contest." Anyone can vote on Facebook for either first lady Michelle Obama's white-and-dark chocolate chip cookies, or Ann Romney's M&M's cookies.
According to Family Circle, it's more than just a tasty tradition; it's a prognostic weathervane.
"Since 1992, when Hillary Clinton and Barbara Bush bumped spatulas, our First Lady cookie contest has been a terrific tradition - and political pacesetter," the Facebook site says. "All but one winner went on to live in the White House." (The exception was Cindy McCain in 2008, when she took down Mrs. Obama's shortbread cookies.)
Famous for her health initiatives across the country, the first lady said in her pitch this year that after her husband - President Obama - her two daughters, and she enjoy "a family dinner with good conversation and healthy food," they sometimes opt to "splurge" on the white-and-dark chocolate chip cookies, which came from the girls' godmother.
Mrs. Romney, meanwhile, said she's banking the contest on one of her 18 grandkids' favorites, M&M's cookies: "Mitt and I love spending time with our children and grandchildren," she told Family Circle. "Whenever we get together you can be sure that we'll mix up a batch of our family favorite M&M's cookies. They smell delicious coming out of the oven - our grandkids can't resist them!"
Voting ends August 15. The winner will be announced in the magazine's November issue, which hits newsstands October 2.
