wowOwow recently went to the heart and hair of the five toss-up states that The New York Times claims are in play in the presidential election by talking to a beautician at a beauty shop in each state. Our purely unscientific (and bizarre) poll also includes a list of issues that are important to each beautician, their shop and how they think the presidential candidates’ wives’ hair should be styled. With the map of the states on our wall, the cities were decided upon by a strictly unbiased dart throw.

OHIO — MCAIN OR A THIRD PARTY

At the Korner Cut Styling Salon in the small town of Ada, OH, about an hour south of Toledo: The head stylist says her patrons are mostly voting for McCain. (She, herself, is hoping to see a third party on the ballot because her attorney told her there would be one.)

THE ISSUES: "Guns. We need to have our guns. Health insurance — the prices need to be lowered. Welfare and anyone who receives it should be drug tested. The deficit is awful. It’s gotta change. I haven’t seen much of Palin but I like her. I don’t like that other guy."

Cindy McCain’s hair: Up, down, curly or straight? "I don’t like that bleached hair."

Michelle Obama’s hair: Up, down, curly or straight? "Hell no. I don’t like that hairdo either."

NEVADA – OBAMA

At Rumors Hair Salon in Reno, the receptionist there is collecting gossip that it’s all about Obama.

THE ISSUES: "This is an Obama shop. I think we’re just tired of the last administration, the war and how much it’s costing. Our shop is suffering right now from the whole economy. We’re down like 16 percent and our landlord here is horrible and she keeps raising our rent. So we’re actually going to move. Reno has really been hit hard because we have a high foreclosure rate. Times are tough right now here, especially when it comes to beauty. We’re all concerned about our jobs. As for Reno in general? On my block there’s one McCain sign and the rest of us tried to get Obama signs but they ran out."

Cindy McCain’s hair: Up, down, curly or straight? "Well I don’t like them so I don’t like her hair."

Michelle Obama’s hair: Up, down, curly or straight? "Wavy."

NORTH CAROLINA – OBAMA

At Syd’s Hair Shop in Chapel Hill, hands and curlers down, the beauticians are voting for Obama.

THE ISSUES: "Pro-gay marriage, the environment and health insurance. I would say the majority of this whole town is leaning toward Barack Obama. If the other side happens to win we’re going to have to move to South America where it’s warm. We just need to get out of here."

Cindy McCain’s hair: Up, down, curly or straight? "Not memorable."

Michelle Obama’s hair: Up, down, curly or straight? "Down."