Can Mike Bloomberg Win Voters Over With Food?

Will it take more than delicious spreads to win the nomination?

Democratic presidential candidate former New York City mayor Mike Bloomberg speaks during the Democratic presidential primary debate at Paris Las Vegas on February 19, 2020 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)
Democratic presidential candidate former New York City mayor Mike Bloomberg speaks during the Democratic presidential primary debate at Paris Las Vegas on February 19, 2020 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)
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By all accounts, Mike Bloomberg had a rough night at the Democratic debate in Nevada last night, but will the former mayor of New York City be able to bounce back and win voters’ affection? As a new Eater piece points out, one way the candidate is attempting to do just that is through their stomaches, offering up elaborate spreads at his campaign events.

According to the publication, while it’s not typical for rallies or other campaign events to serve food, Bloomberg has spent a great deal of money on feeding voters, serving up hoagies, honeyed Brie and cheesesteaks for 1,000 people in Philadelphia; empanadas, steak sandwiches and pao de queijo at a “Brazilians for Bloomberg” event in Brooklyn; Cuban sandwiches in Miami; and taro fries, spring rolls and Vietnamese wings at a “Vietnamese-American Campaign Allies” event. (Tuan Bui, the owner of the restaurant who catered that event, it’s worth noting, told Eater, “I’m voting for Bernie Sanders.”)

“People are more likely to engage with the message when they have a full stomach,” Helen Monroe, a Winston-Salem resident at an early-voting event in North Carolina, told the publication.

While most people’s votes can’t be bought simply by handing out free food, Eater found at least one who was swayed by the pulled pork sandwich Bloomberg served in North Carolina.

“In North Carolina, you have Eastern and Western barbecue sauce, and at this event you have both. He’s a uniter!” Millie Ravenel said. “I cemented my commitment to him today.”

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