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Masked politics: Halloween favorites in Washington and elsewhere

With Election Day and Halloween just days apart, it should come as no surprise to see "Sarah Palin" or "President Obama" running around the neighborhood.

Darin Pellegrino and Lourdes Lopez get into the spirit of the 1988 presidential election with masks of then-Vice President George H.W. Bush and Massachusetts Gov. Michael Dukakis at Abracadbra, their store in New York City's Greenwich Village.

Sept. 1, 1988

Darin Pellegrino and Lourdes Lopez get into the spirit of the 1988 presidential election with masks of then-Vice President George H.W. Bush and Massachusetts Gov. Michael Dukakis at Abracadbra, their store in New York City's Greenwich Village.

Joe Conunale-AP

A Mount Rushmore-style display of masks depicting, from left, Richard Nixon, Bill Clinton and Bob Dole.

Oct. 23, 1996

A Mount Rushmore-style display of masks depicting, from left, Richard Nixon, Bill Clinton and Bob Dole.

Frank Johnston-The Washington Post

Texas Gov. George W. Bush pulls a switcheroo by wearing an Al Gore mask while "Tonight Show" host Jay Leno wears a Bush mask during a taping in 2000.

Oct. 30, 2000

Texas Gov. George W. Bush pulls a switcheroo by wearing an Al Gore mask while "Tonight Show" host Jay Leno wears a Bush mask during a taping in 2000.

Rick Wilking-Reuters

A 2001 store display in Atlanta features masks of Laura Bush, George W. Bush, Dick Cheney and other political figures.

Oct. 8, 2001

A 2001 store display in Atlanta features masks of Laura Bush, George W. Bush, Dick Cheney and other political figures.

Erik S. Lesser-Getty Images

Paul Blum, proprietor of the Abracadabra Superstore in Manhattan, shows off his 2004 stock of political masks during the Republican National Convention.

Aug. 31, 2004

Paul Blum, proprietor of the Abracadabra Superstore in Manhattan, shows off his 2004 stock of political masks during the Republican National Convention.

Gregory Bull-AP

An actor in a John Kerry mask comes upon a colleague in a George W. Bush mask at the Abracadabra store in New York in 2004.

Oct. 6, 2004

An actor in a John Kerry mask comes upon a colleague in a George W. Bush mask at the Abracadabra store in New York in 2004.

Bebeto Matthews-AP

Megan Segle, wearing a Hillary Clinton mask, takes a swing at Scott Greninger, in a George W. Bush mask, while shopping for costumes in 2004 in San Francisco.

Oct. 28, 2004

Megan Segle, wearing a Hillary Clinton mask, takes a swing at Scott Greninger, in a George W. Bush mask, while shopping for costumes in 2004 in San Francisco.

Eric Risberg-AP

A pumpkin patch in Clinton, Md., uses scarecrows dressed as Dick Cheney, George W. Bush and Condoleezza Rice.

Oct. 14, 2005

A pumpkin patch in Clinton, Md., uses scarecrows dressed as Dick Cheney, George W. Bush and Condoleezza Rice.

Linda Davidson-The Washington Post

Political masks are displayed at Disguise, a costume store in New York.

Oct. 25, 2006

Political masks are displayed at Disguise, a costume store in New York.

Stan Honda-AFP/Getty Images

Nebraska Sen. Chuck Hagel, dressed as then-Sen. Joe Biden, shakes hands with the real thing on Capitol Hill in 2007.

Oct. 31, 2007

Nebraska Sen. Chuck Hagel, dressed as then-Sen. Joe Biden, shakes hands with the real thing on Capitol Hill in 2007.

Kevin Lamarque-Reuters

Employee Jamie Shurmantine tries on a John McCain mask at the Odyssey party store in Aurora, Ohio in 2008.

Oct. 15, 2008

Employee Jamie Shurmantine tries on a John McCain mask at the Odyssey party store in Aurora, Ohio in 2008.

Amy Sancetta-AP

Halloween is a day when the president has many stand-ins around the country.

Halloween is a day when the president has many stand-ins around the country.

Nick Nacca-AP

Zombie versions of Hillary Clinton and President Obama have been available in past years.

Oct. 16, 2009

Zombie versions of Hillary Clinton and President Obama have been available in past years.

Jewel Samad-AFP/Getty Images

A Halloween store in Burbank, Calif., offers masks for people of every political stripe.

Oct. 22, 2009

A Halloween store in Burbank, Calif., offers masks for people of every political stripe.

Robyn Beck-AFP/Getty Images

Gallery Credits:
Photo Editor, Producer Troy Witcher

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