Cat Rambo, left, and Manuel Garcia show off their respective interpretations of presidential candidate Mitt Romney, left, and President Barack Obama, right, at the Underwater Pumpkin Carving Contest on Sunday in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary off Key Largo, Fla. The event, organized by the Amoray Dive Resort, attracted 42 divers who participated or watched the offbeat competition. (AP Photo/Florida Keys News Bureau, Bob Care) KEY LARGO, Fla. — Scuba divers gave a political edge to an underwater pumpkin carving contest in the Florida Keys, paring portraits of presidential candidates Barack Obama and Mitt Romney.
Sunday’s contest in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary attracted 42 divers.
Cat Rambo of Miami Beach said she chose to create a Romney pumpkin because of the political fervor surrounding the election and Monday’s final debate. Miami’s Manuel Garcia cut an Obama pumpkin.
Amoray Dive Resort’s Amy Slate organized the contest. She says it seemed natural for the candidates to be carved because “they always take political pokes at each other.”
Key Largo residents Jana Vandelaar and her daughter Jacqueline accessorized their pumpkin with the head, arms and legs of the cartoon character Snoopy. Carved into its body was the message: “Vote.”