A Break From Debate Prep
A pool report of Barack Obama's lunchtime break from debate prep in NC, per Amy Chozick of The Wall Street Journal:
Barack Obama and his entourage stopped in at 12 Bones Smokehouse, a little barbeque dive in the River Arts District of Asheville that is supposed to be famous around these parts. The interior walls were covered in bumper stickers and signs expressing such Southern wisdom as “Baby, every day I wake up next to you is an excuse to drink.”
Don’t let the bumper sticker covered walls and modest exterior fool you, the place felt more like a Berkley vegetarian spot than a sleazy Southern smokehouse. "Can you voice for the barbeque here?" Obama asked a man who, yes, vouched for the barbeque. “Yeah, there was a line even before I got here,” Obama said as he stepped up to the register.
"That's the next president of the United States there fellas," an older man announced as Obama walked through the restaurant.
He ordered six sweet teas for himself and his staff, a double order of collard greens, one BBQ plate, a veggie plate and two racks of ribs (12 Bones’ specialty) and some corn pudding. Total price: $66. Obama paid in cash.
Obama’s order number was one. He held up the #1 plastic marker the cashier gave him with a grin. “No 1, huh?” he said smiling at the cameras.
Obama shook hands with a 6th grader and commented on him being out of school on a Monday afternoon. “That means you’re getting good grades, doing your homework,” Obama said. “Because if not you’d be stuck in study hall.”
He made his way around the restaurant and shook hands with voters, some of whom said they saw him on Sunday at the rally at Asheville High. A gynecologist told Obama he’d heard him speak about health care at the rally. He shared his own experiences as a doctor. “That’s why I’m talking about health care,” Obama said.
Another voter asked about the highway fund and Obama gave him a line about his plans for an infrastructure development fund.
A college student told Obama that he trusts him. Another said he just got out of the Navy.
Obama posed for a few photos and then headed back to the Grove Inn for debate prep.
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