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What’s your sign? Oh,
you’re a Republican;
never mind

'TIS the season to be political -- or not. Honolulu was recently ranked one of the 20 best U.S. cities in which to hook up, romantically speaking, with a Democrat. Equally not shocking, no Hawaii locales made it into the list of best cities for meeting a Republican.

The survey by Axe Deodorant Bodyspray and Sperling's BestPlaces used 24 criteria including population density, percentage of singles and past city election records. The top city for snagging a Dem was New York, while top to find a Gopper was Colorado Springs, Colo.

All the talk about the nation being so polarized as the presidential election approaches begs the question -- what does this mean for Hawaii dating services?

It means an addition to the list of "most important questions ... especially this political season," for matchmaking maven Dee Dee DeSoto, president of Party of Six. Her company brings six single clients together for dinner to meet new friends.

Political passions are determined during new client interviews.

There was an occasion a while back where political disagreements dampened a dinner, "so now I make sure I don't mix far left and far right," she said.

The company questionnaire queries clients, "Are you interested in politics? Do you have any strong political opinions that you feel could affect a relationship if you don't have that in common?"

Some clients have told her they will not date a person belonging to another political party, while others have told her it's not that big a deal to them.

It's the same story at It's Just Lunch, which matches two single people for lunch dates.

"We have an in-depth interview with each of our clients that goes into all aspects," said Director Kirstie Kohlmeier. Clients are asked their profession, hobbies, who they find attractive, what they are looking for in another person, likes, dislikes and other areas of interest.

If politics is one of those interests, "we'll talk about it and match them only with people who share that same political interest," Kohlmeier said.

Not everyone can wind up like Mary Matalin and James Carville, who are noted political strategists for opposing parties and who are at the same time very married.

Buzzbits

Sears is preparing for the grand reopening of stores that didn't actually close, in Windward Mall and at Queen Kaahumanu Center on Maui. Hawaiian blessings will precede both stores' openings at 8:30 a.m. Oct. 30. ... The Big Island Broadcasting Inc. that has reserved the right to bid on construction permits for new Hawaii FM stations is headquartered in Louisiana. ... GA Consulting is opening an office at 125 Merchant St. for its image and fashion consulting work. Owner Gillian Armour is also publishing a newsletter featuring one "best-dressed woman" each month. It seems as if Honolulu hasn't had a best-dressed list since Patsy Hemmeter was a perennial choice of late local designer Zsalei in the 1980s.

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