'I didn’t see the cheese coming' and more real ways 2020 Democrats described food at the Iowa State Fair


At the Iowa State Fair this year, it was once again a competition to deliver the most insanely hyperbolic food-related quote possible.
From ridiculously over-the-top descriptions of BLTs to celebrations of turkey legs, let's take a look at the silliest, and possibly most disingenuous, ways 2020 Democrats wildly played up their love of fair food this time around.
1. Pete Buttigieg on the bacon ball BLT - The mayor of South Bend, Indiana ranted and raved about the bacon ball BLT like it was an M. Night Shyamalan movie. "The surprise and delight," he recalled to the Des Moines Register. "Because you got the bacon, then you find the meatball in it. Then you get to the part with the cheese. And I didn't see the cheese coming."
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2. Bill de Blasio on the corn dog - The mayor of New York City chowed down a corn dog, which he somehow decided was "health food," and said, per journalist Marcus DiPaola, "Amazing. Corn and hot dogs were meant to be married. I could eat this at every meal."
3. Jay Inslee on everything - The governor of Washington was so enthusiastic about the fair that he declared he'd be the first presidential candidate to eat something from every single stand, which sounds all well and good until you find yourself scarfing down an ice cream cone at 10:30 in the morning, reports The Economist's Jon Fasman.
4. Cory Booker on the fried peanut butter and jelly sandwich - The vegan New Jersey senator not only praised this sandwich as a "little slice of heaven" but also challenged his fellow 2020 Democrats to an eating contest, reports Eater. "I think I could take the field."
5. Andrew Yang on turkey legs - The entrepreneur declared his turkey leg purchase to be "best 10 dollars I ever spent," reports Eater, leading into a pitch for his $1,000-a month for every American plan. "Think of it, America," he said. "A hundred of these a month."
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Brendan worked as a culture writer at The Week from 2018 to 2023, covering the entertainment industry, including film reviews, television recaps, awards season, the box office, major movie franchises and Hollywood gossip. He has written about film and television for outlets including Bloody Disgusting, Showbiz Cheat Sheet, Heavy and The Celebrity Cafe.
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