As the 2024 presidential election approaches, the results of a unique "cookie poll" in Pennsylvania have provided a positive sign for former President Donald Trump, the GOP presidential nominee, in a critical swing state. Lochel's Bakery, a local establishment in Hatboro, Pennsylvania, has been conducting its informal poll by selling presidential candidate cookies with red sprinkles for "Trump 2024" and blue sprinkles for "Harris 2024."

According to an interview with Fox News on Friday, Lochel's Bakery revealed that as of that morning, Trump had sold 5,200 cookies, while Harris had sold 500 cookies. The bakery emphasizes that the cookie poll is not scientific but aims to add a touch of enjoyment to the election season. They wrote on Facebook, "I know this triggers a lot of emotions and people get bent...keep calm and eat a cookie! The cookie poll is not scientific. Just delicious."

Lochel's Bakery has been conducting this quirky poll since 2012 and has accurately predicted the outcome of three out of the last four elections. However, its winning streak was interrupted in 2020, when President Joe Biden won despite Trump leading the cookie poll with 290 cookies sold to Biden's 173.

The significance of this particular poll arises as battleground states, including Pennsylvania, will play a crucial role in determining the overall election result due to the Electoral College system. With its 19 Electoral College votes, Pennsylvania is a key state that both Trump and Harris are focusing their efforts on. Recent polls have shown Harris ahead in Pennsylvania, although Trump has been narrowing the gap.

As of Saturday morning, Harris led by a slim margin of 0.7 points, with 47.5 percent to Trump's 46.8 percent, according to the FiveThirtyEight poll tracker. This marks a decrease from earlier this month when Harris had a lead of 1.2 points with 46.2 percent compared to Trump's 45 percent. Other poll trackers, such as RealClearPolitics and The Economist, also indicate a narrow advantage for Harris in Pennsylvania.

Political experts, like Robert Speel, an associate professor of political science at Penn State University, advise Harris to learn from Hillary Clinton's mistakes in the 2016 election. Speel suggests that Harris should not solely focus on the Philadelphia and Pittsburgh metro areas, as they only represent half of the state's population. Trump's strategic visits to smaller cities and counties in Pennsylvania could have played a role in his victory in 2016.

Although Pennsylvania has traditionally voted Democrat in seven of the past eight presidential elections, Trump's narrow win in 2016 by a margin of 0.7 percent indicates that the state remains highly competitive and pivotal in determining the next president.

While the "cookie poll" at Lochel's Bakery may not hold scientific significance, it serves as a lighthearted and delicious way for the community to participate in the election process. As the 2024 race heats up, political enthusiasts will be watching closely to see if the outcome of the cookie poll aligns with the ultimate result in this crucial swing state.