GOLDSBORO, N.C. — During election season, it’s common to see politicians visiting local barbecue restaurants, shaking hands and spreading the message of their campaign.
What You Need To Know
Barbecue is an important part of politics in North Carolina
Politicians hold public gatherings in restaurants and use barbecue to get the people to listen to them
A candidate for governor in 1984 sabotaged his chances by panning barbecue
Bob Garner says this is nothing new in North Carolina.
“It’s inexpensive, and it’s an easy way to gather a crowd for a political event. You can barbecue some pigs, chop it up, serve it with some inexpensive side dishes like chopped up cabbage or potatoes or something like that, and have some iced tea or some soft drinks, and you’ve got it,” Garner said. “If you don’t charge for it, then people will gladly stand around and listen to the politicians talk about why they should be elected.”
Garner has traveled the state, visiting the most iconic barbecue restaurants and writing about the impact of barbecue.
He says we might not have the big gatherings in the town square like we used to, but the shift to politicians visiting restaurants makes sense.
Garner says barbecue restaurants are always guaranteed to have diners, so it’s an easy spot to get face-to-face with a group of people.
He compares it to politicians getting a bowl of clam chowder in the Northeast or more barbecue in Kansas City.
Sometimes, the restaurants themselves can be political.
Wilber’s Barbecue is a staple of the state, and has had its fair share of famous visitors.
Presidents George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton have visited.
“Wilberdean Shirley, the founder of Wilber’s, was a big Democratic barbecue guy, and so if there was going to be a fundraiser around in eastern North Carolina or a barbecue event, he was almost sure to be involved in it,” Garner said.
With all the opinions about the best barbecue from east to west, politicians also have to be careful about what they say on the campaign trail, a lesson learned from Rufus Edmisten.
"He was running for governor of North Carolina in 1984, and coming from the mountain area of North Carolina he wasn’t as much of a fan of barbecue and made the mistake of saying to a bunch of reporters on a slow news day, 'Oh my goodness. I’m so sick of barbecue. I hope I never have to eat it again,'" Garner said. "That was because he had been on campaign stop after campaign stop after campaign stop, and he always got barbecue.
"But of course they picked that up and put it all over the wire services. ‘Rufus Edmisten says he was sick of barbecue.' Well, you can’t be governor of North Carolina and not be a barbecue lover.”
Even though much has changed in the way people campaign in the state, Garner doesn’t think the importance of barbecue is going anywhere.
“There’s always going to be that connection for sure,” Garner said. “I don’t think that will ever die out.”