The American Halloween tradition of decorating homes and trees has taken on an unexpected twist. Eager to express their presidential preferences, some are thought to have gone way too far.

A University of Kentucky student and his friend are behind bars, accused of hanging a life-sized effigy of Barack Obama on a tree on the campus.

Student Joe Fischer, 22, and Hunter Bush, 21, have also been charged with burglary and theft at the fraternity house where, according to police, they took their materials from.

Witnesses said that the effigy, wearing a suit jacket and sweat pants, bore an Obama Halloween mask and was hanging from a tree with a noose around its neck. In its resemblance of Ku Klux Klan style lynchings of the 19th and 20th century, the deed angered university officials.

“As outrageous and offensive an act as the effigy was, I truly believe it has mobilised our campus, the community and the state in an effort to battle racism,” said University of Kentucky president Lee Todd on Thursday, adding that the violation might lead to the student’s expulsion.

Meanwhile, in California, another effigy, depicting Republican Sarah Palin, has been taken down from the house in West Hollywood after numerous complaints.

Chad Morrissette, the house owner, ignored other people’s protests and took the effigy down only after West Hollywood Mayor Jeffrey Prang intervened.

“My understanding is that the Mayor had a long talk with the man and convinced him to take it down. The homeowner began to realise what he’d done had caused more of a reaction than hoped for,” said Los Angeles County sheriff’s spokesman, Steven Whitmore.

However, the rest of the scene, showing a mannequin of McCain, coming out of the chimney surrounded by fake flames, remained on the house.

The homeowners still maintain that it is just a harmless Halloween work of art.

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