Stumping And Eating in Iowa Part 1
Sacking graded peanuts, Courtesy of the New York Public Library
This on going series focuses on identity politics, fund raising campaigns, and mobilizing people throughout modern US history. It focuses on understanding the cultural constructions of political identities and alliances. The argument is that all politics is local and socially constructed.
Food plays an important role in raising political support for candidates, initiatives, and turning out voters on election day. When Jimmy Carter campaigned in Iowa in 1976 he stumped at a lemonade and peanut picnic on a farm, 5,000 people showed up to hear him. Certainly this event played to his strength as a peanut farmer from planes Georgia. Carter made a name for himself as a relentless campaigner an attribute which resulted in an upset victory in the state on his road to the White House in 1976. His results in Iowa gave new importance to the states archaic caucuses as a bellwether state in presidential primaries.
