A Pennsylvania bakery known for its election cookie survey is being inundated with orders

HATBORO, Pa. (AP) — A suburban Philadelphia bakery's cookie “survey” began in 2008 Presidential campaign What started as a joke between the owners and their customers has become much more.

Lochel's Bakery in Hatboro is flooded with orders. People drive from a few hours away to buy the cookies in person, and delivery orders come from as far away as Alaska.

The bakery sells 4-inch round sugar cookies, one with blue and white sprinkles and a Harris 2024 label and the other with red and white sprinkles and a Trump 2024 label. The sale of each Harris 2024 cookie counts as a vote in the poll for the Democrats Kamala Harris and likewise for Republicans Donald Trump.

The Cookie poll began in 2008 and accurately predicted the winner the first three times, but not in 2020, when Trump lost the White House election to Democrat Joe Biden.

Kathy Lochel, whose husband is Lochel's third-generation baker, said sales exploded this year as customers bought thousands of cookies.

“It’s just a fun, stress-free balance that we’re doing,” Lochel said. “It’s definitely not scientific. I say it's just a delicious way to take the pressure off what's going on with the election, all the ads, all the campaign stuff, just a cookie.

“I can’t stress that more. It’s just a cookie.”

Helene Moran bought Trump cookies on her 82nd birthday with her daughter and son-in-law, who live in North Carolina.

“What we always do when Trump is on the ballot,” said Moran, who lives near the bakery. “He’s my darling, I love him so much.”

This year, election cookie sales are surpassing 2020 sales.

“These cookies are currently shipping all over the United States, so much so that they are backordered, so we are about three to four weeks behind,” Lochel said.

Currently, the bakery is guaranteeing deliveries will arrive by Election Day on Nov. 5, Lochel said. Customers driving from a few hours away could reach her more quickly, she said.

It shouldn't hurt business that Lochel's is located in the battleground state of Pennsylvania. It also doesn't hurt that Lochel's is in the densely populated and moderate suburbs of Philadelphia, where Trump and Harris are vying for support.

Trump's numbers may have gotten a boost after he shared a story about the cookie survey on his social media platform. As of Tuesday, Trump led Harris 12,558 to 889 — a far larger margin than pollsters have found.

Aside from the election – with its attack ads, insults and barbs on social media – the cookie-buying audience was entirely pleasant and positive.

“The people that come into our store, whether they're buying red cookies or blue cookies, they're friendly, they're joking, they're laughing, they're buying other things,” Lochel said.

___

Follow AP's coverage of the 2024 election: https://apnews.com/hub/election-2024