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Which First Lady Cookie recipe would get your vote?

USATODAY
The Occidental Grill & Seafood next to the historic Willard Intercontinental Hotel, just two blocks from the White House, is having a First Lady cookie contest.

Almost every conversation taking place in the nation's capital these days seems to turn to the presidential race.

But just two blocks away from the White House, there's another contest taking place. This one is between cookie recipes submitted by First Lady Michelle Obama and First Lady hopeful Ann Romney to Family Circle magazine.

Through Election Day, every diner at the Occidental Grill & Seafood, next to the historic Willard Intercontinental Hotel, will receive a complimentary set of cookies baked according to both recipes.

Michelle Obama has presented white and dark chocolate chip cookies made with white chocolate chips, milk chocolate chips and mint chocolate chips. Ann Romney's recipe is an oatmeal cookie made with peanut butter, chocolate chips and M&M's.

Diners get ballots so they can vote for their favorite cookie. Weekly tallies are delivered on the Occidental's Facebook page and Twitter account, @OccidentalGrill.

As of week four of the contest, Michelle Obama was in the lead with 58% of the votes. Romney had 40% of the votes. And another 2% couldn't decide.

Hotel Check-in got to try both cookies. One dining companion said Obama's cookie tasted like a Girl Scout Thin Mint Cookie. There was debate over whether a traditional peanut butter cookie would have been better than one with so many extra candy bits thrown in.

Hotel Check-in is remaining objective.

Obama's chocolate concoction was in stark contrast to her shortbread cookie in 2008. Will she win this time with her sweeter creation?

Family Circle has been holding the First Lady cookie contest since 1992. Apparently, it's a good predictor of who wins the election. All but one winner of the cookie contest has gone on to live in the White House, Family Circle notes.

Chef Rodney Scruggs notes that many of the restaurant's diners, both D.C.residents and tourists, tend to be passionate about presidential elections—as well as their First Lady cookie selections.

"We are known as the restaurant 'Where Statesmen Dine,' and we understand we have passionate voters on both sides—both for cookies and for the real thing. But whomever comes out ahead, we welcome all parties to enjoy our fine food, desserts and wonderful atmosphere," he says.

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