The U.S. election season has reached a whole new level of absurdity now that Donald Trump voodoo dolls are selling like hotcakes in Seattle.
Voodoo dolls are effigies into which pins are inserted so that the person made into its likeness will suffer pain. It is commonly used in the occult.
However, Sally Noedell, a Bainbridge Island woman, thought of making these dolls to earn some extra cash.
"At first, I made a whole bunch of political figures, but Trump became the front-running doll really fast," Noedell told the Kitsap Sun. "This is the one most people most want to stick pins into."
Each "Trumpy" voodoo doll sells for $9.95 and comes with a plastic-wrapped selection of colourful pins and a list of six suggested "voodoo spells" to cast.
"If you hear Donald Trump say something about minority groups or women or any of the things he says that offend so many people, this is a harmless way to respond," Noedell said. "You can take out your pent-up feelings."
At first, Noedell sold the dolls only through Seattle-area Fireworks stores, but the demand for "Trumpy" dolls has gotten so huge that they now created the donaldtrumpvoodoo.com website.
Noedell added that the dolls are not just for anti-Trump Americans, because those who support the Republican presidential hopeful can also enjoy the voodoo "Trumpy."
"They don't have to stick it with pins," she said. "They could just cuddle it. Maybe cast happy spells on it."
If the demand for the dolls continues until the November election, Noedell hopes that she would end up a very rich woman. "I think this will continue at least to the (Republican) convention in July and probably on to November," she said. "If Donald Trump becomes president, that'd really boost sales. I might become a millionaire."
