At the NJ Pest Management Association’s annual conference the industry hosted a roach derby with the racers named after politicians. As the AP reported:
Gov. Chris Christie might have little to cheer about despite the polls following the 17th New Jersey Cockroach Derby. A Madagascar Hissing Cockroach representing the Republican easily beat another representing his Democratic opponent Barbara Buono. Christie also holds a strong lead over Buono in the polls. But the insects have not done well in predicting the outcome of elections.
Headlines about previous cockroach races include:
- 2012: Bugging out: Romney defeats Obama in cockroach derby
- 2009: N.J. cockroach contest predicts Corzine will beat Christie in governor’s race
- 2008: McCain beats Obama in race of hissing cockroaches
None of which turned out to be an accurate predictor of the election results later each year. To quote from our blog posting from November 7, 2012 (following both Obama’s reelection and the Romney roach victory over the Obama roach):
“WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? WE ARE ABSOLUTELY CERTAIN THAT ROACHES KNOW NOTHING ABOUT POLITICS.”