Presidential Candidates Invited to Ham & Yam
My friend Chris Johnson has been known to go to great lengths to promote the Ham & Yam Festival and to be honest he has many creative ideas. He offered the naming rights to the highest bidder on Ebay, and has jumped into the Neuse River when it rained on the festival. And for his latest marketing angle he has invited the presidential candidates to attend this year’s festival on May 3-4. With some local support and grassroots efforts, maybe he will succeed. Below is his news release…pass it on!
Presidential Candidates Clinton, Obama, and McCain Invited To Attend 2008 Ham & Yam Festival
Smithfield NC –With the resurgence of Presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton against Barack Obama in the Pennsylvania primary on Tuesday, getting the nod to lead the Democratic Party into November against John McCain is like a “greased pig” that neither candidate can seem to grasp.
The state of North Carolina now looks to be the site of a possible political showdown between the Democratic presidential heavyweights. To assist the candidates in getting their message to the masses, the Ham & Yam Festival has invited the presidential candidates from both parties to attend the event, which takes place the weekend prior to the May 6, North Carolina primary.
“What better place to talk about the future and direction of this great nation, and ‘pork barrel’ projects, than in Smithfield, North Carolina at the annual Ham & Yam Festival,” states Chris Johnson, Executive Director of the Downtown Smithfield Development Corporation and host organization of the annual town celebration. “As a political junkie, I questioned why wouldn’t a candidate want to visit our festival to gather support and bring home the bacon.”
In 2007, the two-day event attracted over 25,000 people. This year, provided good weather, organizers anticipate an even larger crowd due to an increased marketing campaign, and a great entertainment lineup that features the Marshall Tucker Band performing at the free Saturday night concert at 8:30PM. In the e-mail invitation to the presidential campaigns, Johnson reminded them that local Democratic and Republican parties will have informational booths for local, state, and national candidates at the festival.
“All candidates are more than welcome to ‘work the crowds’ and eat plenty of the best ham biscuits and Eastern BBQ they will ever taste!” Johnson said. While none of the campaigns have responded, optimism is high in Downtown Smithfield that a visit may be possible with both Clinton and Obama in the triangle area attending the annual Democratic Jefferson-Jackson dinner on the Friday night before the weekend festival.
“At the local downtown coffee shop, I told my buddies a couple of days ago of my invitations to the candidates,” continued Johnson. “Skeptical that none of the national figures would show, they responded with the predictable ‘When Pigs Fly’ bit. But you never know: Even a blind pig finds corn now and then.”
Always prepared, Johnson claims that if all the national candidates show up, the stage and microphones will be ready if that want to go head-to-head in a true debate. “As the race tightens up, and as it gets closer to the conventions, I anticipate more mudslinging,” predicted Johnson. “Here in Smithfield and at the Ham & Yam Festival, we won’t have any of that. We live a little higher on the hog.”
For more information about the 2008 Ham & Yam Festival or the Downtown Smithfield Development Corporation Development Corporation, please visit www.downtownsmithfield.com.
Chris Johnson
Executive Director
Downtown Smithfield Development Corporation
200 South Front Street
Smithfield, NC 27577
919-934-0887 phone
919-989-6202 fax
919-915-6202 cell
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Guess that Obama was scared to come to Smithfield since we cling to religion and redneck roots of owning guns… still seems to me that large minds accept God and religion and all the possibilities while small minds think they are better than others….
Not sure why Hillary isn’t coming. Guess there wasn’t a wet tee shirt contest to keep Bill occupied…..