As the country gears up for the 2024 presidential election, a battleground has emerged in a suburban bakery just outside Philadelphia. Lochel’s Bakery, a small business known for its politically-themed cookies during election seasons, has seen a staggering difference in sales between their Donald Trump and Kamala Harris cookies. The current tally shows a clear-cut lead for Trump.
Lochel’s Bakery, located in Hatboro, PA, has sold over 4,228 cookies supporting former President Donald Trump, compared to just 369 cookies supporting Vice President Kamala Harris. The difference surprised many, given that Philadelphia is in a reliably blue county.
“The red is leading by a lot,” said Kathy Lochel, the bakery’s owner. “Just to stress this, that is not a typo. Former President Trump with more than 4,000 cookies sold,” CBS News reported. “Current Vice President Kamala Harris with only about 400. So the Harris voters got some work to do if they want to boost their numbers here.”
“I’m a small business and prices are really high right now,” Lochel explained. “We’re seeing increases daily on eggs and butter and so these help get people in.” While Lochel’s Bakery isn’t in the business of predicting elections, some customers seem to think that cookie sales reflect broader political sentiment.
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This isn’t the first time the bakery has created a buzz with its politically themed-cookies. They’ve done similar sales during past election cycles, drawing both local and national attention. The bakery, a local favorite since 1984 known for its elaborate cakes, has seen unprecedented attention this election season. Their “cookie count” tradition started in 2008 where they sell cookies representing presidential candidates. The bakery’s tally has proven to be a surprisingly accurate predictor of election outcomes, even outperforming some national polls in past elections.
The size of the gap between Trump and Harris cookies this year has turned heads, particularly in a region known for supporting Democratic candidates. While the sales numbers at Lochel’s Bakery might not be completely indicative of the national mood, they do reflect the enthusiasm that surrounds former President Trump’s candidacy. What’s notable is that Philadelphia, as part of a deep blue state, generally supports Democrat candidates. However, the cookie sales at Lochel’s suggest a strong presence of Trump supporters, even in traditionally liberal areas. For now, Trump is winning by a landslide in the bakery showdown.
The debate, hosted by ABC News and set to begin at 9 p.m. ET, will hope to provide Harris with an opportunity to re-engage voters. Harris, whose polling momentum plateaued, ascended to the top of the Democrat ticket in July after Joe Biden halted his reelection campaign following an awful debate showing against Trump. With less than two months to go until Election Day, the debate holds high pressure for Harris to appeal to Americans. At 59, she faces self-inflicted trouble, stemming from her avoidance of unscripted interactions and limited media engagement since her unexpected rise to the forefront.
