WE BOBBLE, YOU DECIDE
With both the Republican and Democratic conventions over and the parties respective candidates named, the American people will spend the next four months debating who should assume the mantle of President of the United States. Saints won’t have to wait until November to cast their vote, as they will participate in one of the most accurate polls in the 21st Century: the Goldklang Group Bobblection. Making its triumphant return to measure the pulse of the voting populous, CHS Field will turn into a political battleground on August 24th as fans cast the deciding vote between Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton.
Normal polling places can be dull and boring (though naturally very important). Instead of just a sticker saying “I Voted,” the Saints want to give fans a little more bang for their ballot and that’s exactly what they’ll receive on Bobblection Night 2016. Upon entering the gates fans will be directed to “voting booths” where they will cast their vote, choosing to either “Make America Great Again” or “Be Stronger Together” (there are no write-ins on this ticket).
Once they’ve completed their vote, fans will take home a bobblehead fashioned in the likeness of their chosen candidate. With an equal number for both candidates, the first candidate to run out of bobbleheads will be declared the winner of the election. And Saints fans won’t be alone in picking the next Commander in Chief. From sea to shining sea (or at least from the Atlantic to the middle of the plains), fans in eight different states will participate in this year’s Bobblelection. The nation should get a sneak peak into swing states when fans of the Ft. Myers Miracle (FL) and the Mahoning Valley Scrappers (OH) cast their vote. Will traditionally democratic states say “I’m With Her” when Lakewood BlueClaws (NY) and Hudson Valley Renegade (NJ) supporters pass through the turnstiles? Do the loyal followers of the Charleston RiverDogs (SC) and Lincoln Saltdogs (NE) believe that Donald Trump alone can fix America, or will they say, “You’re fired” to the unconventional Republican candidate?
Regardless of political affiliation, it’s a night that will be entertaining for all involved. Though the results from St. Paul will be totaled on that night, the Minnesota vote will be just a part of the two-week Bobblection process. With votes starting on August 23 and running through September 2, the baseball world will be on the edge of their seats as Bobblections are decided one by one all over the country.
Originally started in 2004, the one of a kind Bobblection was an accurate predictor of two incredibly close Presidential Races. Back in 2004, the promotion gained national recognition as George W. Bush took four of seven states to win the first ever Bobblection, with CNN broadcasting results live from the swing state of Florida at Hammond Stadium, home of the Ft. Myers Miracle. The network missed the closest race, which took place at Midway Stadium where John Kerry edged George Bush by just 17 bobbleheads. Three months before the actual election and with exit polls showing the race to close to call, the Goldklang Bobblection got it right.
The trend continued in 2008 with a clean sweep by Barack Obama over John McCain. Though there were some close races in New York and Brockton (MA), the soon to be president-elect was the most popular candidate by a wide margin in ballparks from South Carolina to South Dakota and especially here in St. Paul, winning by the second largest margin at Midway Stadium.
In 2012, the vote of the baseball population differed from that of the American people. Deciding between the Republican nominee Mitt Romney and incumbent President Barack Obama, fans of 10 different teams voted for the former Massachusetts governor to be the next occupant of the Oval Office. While some teams like the Hickory Crawdad’s (NC) gave Romney an overwhelming nod (he won by 14 percentage points), swing states like Florida illustrated how close the election would be, with Obama narrowly winning the vote of the Fort Myers faithful by 0.4 percent.
As a friendly reminder, be sure to visit MNvotes.org to check that you are registered to vote in the actual election on November 8 and know your polling place. But during this election season, while friends and family are pointing fingers and arguing about politics, sit back and shake your favorite candidates bobblehead knowing you’ve done your part in the pre-election conversation.
Happy Hour with Governor Martin O'Malley in Minneapolis, Minnesota on Friday, August 26, 2016
