PRESS RELEASES

Will Presidential Donut Poll Again Pick Winner?

LaMar's Donuts to gauge candidates' popularity through sales of "Dough-Bama" and "Mitt Yum-ney" gourmet donuts, with benefits to Alzheimer's Association

DENVER, Aug. 30, 2012­­ /PRNewswire/ -- LaMar's Donuts today announced the launch of the 2012 Presidential Donut Poll, a reprise of the 2008 (unscientific) survey in which customers were able to select from two limited-edition donuts on sale during the election season: the "Dough-Bama," a donkey-shaped donut with blue sugar frosting and representing Democratic candidate Barack Obama, or the elephant-shaped "McCandyCain" donut with red sugar, representing Republican nominee John McCain.

For the 2012 poll, LaMar's customers will choose similarly from the "Dough-Bama" and the "Mitt Yum-ney," each appropriately handmade, shaped and decorated according to the corresponding political party's identity.

The donuts will be sold from Sept. 1 through Oct. 31, and LaMar's will track sales and release polling results throughout October on its website at www.lamars.com.

Four years ago, the LaMar's Donuts Presidential Poll projected Mr. Obama as poll winner, with 52 percent of sales. As it turned out, then-Senator Obama won the real election with a nearly identical share of the popular vote: 53.7 percent.

This year the poll benefits the Colorado and Kansas City chapters of the Alzheimer's Association, which will receive a portion of sales proceeds. September is World Alzheimer's Month, an annual event in the effort to advance research and raise awareness of the fight against the neurological disease.

"We are very excited to get into a positive spirit of the 2012 election," said Kayde Pierce, spokesperson for LaMar's Donuts. "We're looking forward to our customers helping us get a sticky finger on the pulse of the electorate."

About LaMar's Donuts

After developing his original donut recipe as a teenager in 1933, Ray Lamar opened the first LaMar's Donuts in 1960 in Kansas City, Missouri. Today the franchised chain has 27 stores in Kansas, Missouri, Colorado, Nebraska, Alabama and Arizona. LaMar's has won numerous awards and favorable reviews by such publications as The New Yorker and Gourmet magazine, and was the first donut to be reviewed and acclaimed by Zagat, the world's most trusted guide to restaurants. LaMar's Donuts are proclaimed by many as "simply a better donut."

   

"Dough-Bama" Takes Lead in Initial Presidential Donut Poll

DENVER, Colo., October 1, 2012 – The blue-sugared, donkey-shaped “Dough-Bama” donut has taken a slim lead over its red-topped “Mitt Yum-ney” rival in the first announced results of the 2012 LaMar’s Presidential Donut Poll.


Sales to date of the Dough-Bama treat – representing President Barack Obama – lead those of the elephant-shaped Mitt Yum-ney – the pastry stand-in for Republican nominee Mitt Romney – by a margin of 51.5 percent to 48.5 percent.

The unscientific poll reflects sales of the two gourmet donuts since September 1 in LaMar’s Donuts in six Midwestern, Western and Southern states.

Coincidentally, current polls in the real presidential race show Obama leading by a range of from 2 to 7 percent.

As election day draws nearer, LaMar’s will track and announce further poll results on its website at www.Lamars.com.

“With a margin this narrow, it’s still an open race,” said Kayde Pierce, spokesperson for LaMar’s Donuts. “As we all know, tastes in politicians and pastries change regularly.”

The donut poll was also close in the 2008 election, when the Dough-Bama garnered 52 percent of sales against the “McCandyCain” donut, standing in for Republican nominee John McCain. Obama won the real election with a nearly identical share of the popular vote: 53.7 percent.

This year, donut-voter turnout and demographics may affect the poll significantly.

“Our locations report that many presidential-donut eaters are under the age of 10,” Pierce said. “Because the Mitt Yum-ney is considerably larger, size may matter more than political philosophy.”

The donuts will be sold through October 31, with sales proceeds benefitting the Colorado and Kansas City chapters of the Alzheimer’s Association.

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About LaMar’s Donuts

After developing his original donut recipe as a teenager in 1933, Ray Lamar opened the first LaMar’s Donuts in 1960 in Kansas City, Missouri. Today the franchised chain has 27 stores in Kansas, Missouri, Colorado, Nebraska, Alabama and Arizona. LaMar’s has won acclaim by publications such as The New Yorker, Gourmet magazine, and Zagat, the world’s most trusted guide to restaurants. LaMar’s Donuts are proclaimed by many as “simply a better donut.”






































                                 Graphic: Lamar's Donuts