10 Foods to Avoid on the Campaign Trail

 10 Foods to Avoid on the Campaign Trail

I've spent decades in the field alongside presidential and prime ministerial candidates. I've learned that campaigns are won and lost on the smallest details — including what the candidate eats on camera. A campaign isn't just messaging, strategy, and organization. Sometimes you're just one bite away from disaster.

May 2005. Pre-election campaign in Britain. Tony Blair buys Gordon Brown an ice cream cone in front of a large gang of media following them around. Two men who could hardly stand each other trying to look like a team for the voters. The snapshot traveled across the world. Everyone observed the contrived normalcy. Maybe a lot of people thought of that photo on Election Day. Whether ice cream is a good idea — see below

Over two decades ago, I was working as campaign manager for my first presidential candidate. He refused to eat most things while we were on the road. His only request: enough chocolate and Coca-Cola in the car. I didn't understand why at the time, but I learned later.

A campaign runs 24/7. Every meal in a public place is a potential photo. Every photo is a potential front page. Or a negative story on the opposition's websites.

Here's what I've learned from other people's mistakes — and from my own experience — about what not to eat in public:

10. Milk and Yogurt Healthy choice — but if you're drinking yogurt from a cup, never lick the lid. Watch out for the "milk mustache." And always check the price of dairy products before you get photographed with them. Journalists love asking politicians what things cost at the grocery store.

9. Potatoes Too many potatoes during a campaign = a noticeable difference in before-and-after photos. Voters notice. So do journalists.

8. Meat White meat is healthy. But whatever you order, go boneless. The last thing your campaign needs is a photo of you going at it with your hands.

7. Corn on the Cob We all love it. Grilled or boiled. Before you even think about eating it in public, stop in front of a mirror first and take an honest look at yourself. You're welcome.

6. Pretzels and Rolls Same problem as corn — the chewing process rarely looks dignified.

5. Fast Food Every PR team's nightmare. Especially with generous amounts of ketchup and mayo. Especially on the street.

4. Ice Cream Never in a cone. Blair and Brown learned that the hard way. There is no scenario in which your ice cream won't melt and start running down your fingers while everyone around you reaches for their phones to snap and record.

3. Goulash and Paprikash: Fantastic dishes. But a stained tie or a politician in a bib make for great front-page photos. For your opponent's campaign.

2. Sushi Healthy, trendy, popular. Thousands of miles from the ocean, your stomach isn't always ready for the adventure. And if you're not handy with chopsticks, forget about it in public.

1. Bread and Salt Almost a tradition in our politics. If you can't refuse, take the smallest possible piece of bread and the minimum amount of salt. Salt dries out your throat. Breadcrumbs get stuck between your teeth. And the rally speech that follows with a dry mouth will not be your finest moment on the campaign trail.

A note for advance teams: talk to the host in advance and warn them what works and what doesn't.

A campaign isn't just messaging and strategy — it's thousands of small details that together build or break a candidate's image.

What would you add to this list? 👇

#PoliticalCampaigning #CampaignManagement #Leadership #Communications #ElectionStrategy