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Fantasy Fest ends with satirical political parade

Ten days of costumed frivolity -- with many revelers impersonating presidents, as well as presidential and vice presidential wannabes -- ended Sunday on this subtropical island.

Fantasy Fest was highlighted by a decadent late Saturday night parade through Key West's historic downtown. Floats and costumes mocking presidential candidates and Wall Street excesses elicited rowdy reaction from more than 50,000 spectators during the procession, which featured 61 motorized floats, Caribbean bands and colorful marching groups.

Many entries drew design inspiration from the Fantasy Fest theme of ``Pirates, Pundits and Political Party Animals.''

Standout parade entries included a float featuring life-size marionettes depicting Barack Obama, John McCain, Bill and Hillary Clinton and other politicians. An 87-foot-long smoke-breathing ''dragon of Wall Street,'' preceded a marching group costumed as gas pumps with sky-high prices.

''Wall Street Pirates'' tossed fake million-dollar bills to the crowd, and Monica Lewinsky pretenders pursued hapless men in Bill Clinton masks.

One float, titled ''Obama Mia,'' a play on the popular musical Mamma Mia, featured six-foot-high facial likenesses of Obama and McCain accompanied by a waving reveler costumed as vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin.

-- THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

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