As Election Day fast approaches, pundits, pollsters and politicians are weighing in with their statistics. Yet 7-Eleven, that little store on the corner catering to everyday Americans, may have the hottest poll in the land. 

Whoa oh whoa — WowOwow was in much need of coffee this morning on our ride to work, so WOW pulled over to our local 7-Eleven (Yes, WOW drinks anyone’s coffee) and had to make a decision as to which coffee cup to drink from.  WOW was a little disturbed to think you have to be polled at 6 a.m. But WOW pulled one of the red or blue cups which were pulling for Obama or McCain in the “Candidates Gaining Ground” electoral poll. In its coffee cup prediction for the week of 10/26/2008 Obama was ahead 60% to McCain’s 40% with over 3,000,000 votes cast.  Since Every Cup Counts, as they state, WOW called 7-Eleven’s corporate headquarters to get to the bottom of the cup and try to decipher how in-tune their poll might be.

WoW: How did the coffee poll begin?

7-Eleven: “It was something we started in 2000 and then we did it again in 2004.  This is our third presidential poll.  We do it in October when the weather turns colder and people turn from Slurpees to coffee.  We thought we’d do something fun and offer a popular 20 ounce size of our coffee.  At first it was in three formats, one for the democrats and one for the republicans and one for the undecided or the “I’m not Sure’s.” It was so successful even though we clearly stated that this is a not a scientific poll since it was just coffee.  We don’t even have stores in all of the states.” 

Wow:  How close did your past polls match the country’s presidential decision?

7-Eleven: “In 2000 our tally almost perfectly mirrored with what the voters said at the poll.  There was only a 1% or 2% difference.  And then in 2004 when we tried it again our polls were about as close as you could get to the actual voting.  This year we just have the red cup and the blue cup with the nominees name on them.” 

Wow: So how many coffee drinkers have voted?

7-Eleven: “We’ve had about 3 million cup votes cast since we started on October 1st and it ends on November 4th. We’ve not counting the 12 or 16 ounce cup. Again, the 20 ounce cup is the most popular size we offer.  People like to drink a lot of coffee.,   I go through several cups a day myself. “

Wow: What color are you drinking from?

7-Eleven: “I’m an Independent and vote for the person, not the party.” (Oh, for only a Nader or a green cup?)

2000 Election                        
George W. Bush:  US Voters: 47.9%, 7-Eleven Voters: 51%

Al Gore:  US Voters: 48.4%, 7-Eleven Voters: 49%

Note:  Bush won in electoral votes, not popular votes in 2000.

2004 Election
George W. Bush: US Voters: 50.7%, 7-Eleven Voters: 51%

John Kerry: US Voters: 48.3%, 7-Eleven Voters: 49%