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New York Pols Carl Paladino, Jimmy McMillan Get the Halloween Costume Treatment

By DNAinfo Staff on October 29, 2010 4:43pm  | Updated on October 30, 2010 9:46am

Ivan Lajara's Carl Paladino mask.
Ivan Lajara's Carl Paladino mask.
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By Jill Colvin

DNAinfo Reporter/Producer

MANHATTAN — Despite their dominance of the headlines in recent weeks, neither Carl Paladino nor Andrew Cuomo, the two candidates duking it out for governor, have become popular enough to make it as mass-produced Halloween costumes.

"Who cares about those people?" Chelsea's Abracadabra Superstore owner Bob Pinzon said. "Those clowns? Come on!"

To fill the void, Ivan Lajara, of Kingston, N.Y., designed his own Paladino mask with creepy cut-out eyes and holes for string.

He first created the image in jest, but decided to post it online in high resolution for anyone to print when he realized he couldn't find one anywhere else.

But Lajara said that instead of dressing up as the bombastic Buffalo developer, he plans to spend Halloween as another gubernatorial hopeful: "Rent is Too Damn High" party candidate Jimmy McMillan, the breakout star of the year's debate, who even has his own action figure.

Jimmy McMillan of the Rent Is Too Damn High party will likely be a popular costume this year.
Jimmy McMillan of the Rent Is Too Damn High party will likely be a popular costume this year.
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Getty/Pool

Lajara plans to don a beard and black glove and, he promised, repeat McMillan's famous refrain, "The rent is too damn high!" all night.

For those who prefer the easy way out, Rah Mazone, who works at Masquerade Halloween Adventure in Times Square, said the store still has Barack Obama, Abraham Lincoln and George Bush masks in stock, though Sarah Palin has sold out.

Pinzon said that in addition to Obama and other presidential masks, he's also sold a large number of colonial costumes, presumably to those hoping to dress up as Tea Party members.

Other non-political big sellers this year include Lady Gaga outfits, vampire wear, Alice in Wonderland ensembles, Avatar suits and old fashioned witch hats (Christine O'Donnell, anyone?)

One of Pinzon's favorites? Those hoping to dress up as the freed Chilean miners.

"All they need is a hard hat and a light," he said. And, perhaps, a mistress.