Demand High for Kerry Masks; One Sold for $300

If Halloween costumes are supposed to be scary, then a lot of people must find Senator Kerry terrifying, because stores online and on the street are sold out.

The company that makes the mask, a French manufacturer called Cesar, couldn't start production until Mr. Kerry's nomination was a certainty in the late spring. Now as election and Halloween fever accelerate, the company has been unable to keep up with demand for the rubbery likenesses of the Democratic nominee.

A few are available through Internet proprietors that planned far enough ahead and made a big early order, but even they're running out: Anniescostumes.com sold its last five Kerry masks over the weekend, and the company isn't sure it'll be able to get anymore in time for the annual scare fest.

The owner of the largest costume store in the city, Paul Blum of Abracadabra Superstore, sold his last Kerry mask for $300, a 600% markup on the $24.95 product. He had a second offer for the same amount, but couldn't lay his hands on a mask.

There was no such shortage of Al Gore or President Bush masks in 2000.

It may be that voters have read recent reports suggesting that mask sales are predictive of the ultimate election winner.

A spokeswoman for Anniescostumes.com, Shari Maxwell, said her company ran out after people started buying the masks in clumps of 15 and 20.

Whether the shortage is to blame or not, the Web site for the Wisconsin-based reseller that first noticed the mask prognostications, Buycostumes.com, said Mr. Bush leads Mr. Kerry 56% to 44%.

Of course, politics aren't the only popular costumes this year. Proprietors of several New York costume shops commented that films often drive what people wear to Halloween parties, and this year is no different: Spiderman is popular with kids and adults, and gladiator costumes are popular on the heals of "Troy."

Jonathan Payuyo at Abracadabra has notices an enormous increase in "sexy" costumes for women. He's set up a whole section for low-cut, short skirted fairy and fairy tale character costumes.

"Anything innocent you can think of, and they want it sexy," Mr. Payuyo said.

Shops have noticed a trend toward couple-costumes, including his and hers screw-and-bolt, plug-and-outlet, and lock-and-key costumes.