Huffington Magazine Issue 12-13 | Page 74

HUFFINGTON 09.09.12 OPENER: SARA D. DAVIS/GETTY IMAGES (ROMNEY); YURI GRIPAS/AFP/GETTYIMAGES (OBAMA); BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/GETTY IMAGES (BIDEN); STEVE POPE/GETTY IMAGES (GINGRICH); BILL PUGLIANO/GETTY IMAGES (RYAN); SHUTTERSTOCK; THIS PAGE: BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/GETTY IMAGES . THIS PAGE: BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/GETTY IMAGES FOOD FIGHT! cured on-the-go, it’s impossible to know how much of it is actually consumed—or by whom. Not that it matters. Both candidates have diligently availed themselves of greasy diners, hamburger joints and bakeries, each stop a set in the meticulously scripted theater of a modern presidential campaign. Providing more than mere sustenance, such venues—along with their home- spun, stick-in-your-gut victuals —can drip palatable flavor onto candidates otherwise known for bleached teeth and teleprompted wit. Food can help candidates emphasize talking points, appeal to specific groups of voters or simply appear human. More efficiently than any speech or handshake, a cheeseburger, you might say, has the power to transform elite jet-setters and millionaire presidential hopefuls into ordinary Joes—if it’s done right. “I don’t want to see politicians The cashier at Five Guys rings up lunch for the president.