Why the Philly cheesesteak can swing a presidential election

– Jodie Delap

Pennsylvania is one of a clutch of states that can decide an American presidential election. Its largest city, Philadelphia, leans solidly Democrat but voters in smaller towns and rural areas tend to favour the Republicans, who narrowly won the state in 2016 particularly thanks to backing from the white working-class. All of which means that contenders from both parties make plenty of time to visit Philadelphia. They don’t just chew over policy, however. In what is now a time-honoured tradition for politicians on the campaign trail, most candidates include a stop for a Philly cheesesteak.

(The Economist, 2020, United Kingdom, <https://www.economist.com/1843/2020/10/12/why-the-philly-cheesesteak-can-swing-a-presidential-election>)