Is the old-fashioned stump speech making a comeback?

The Winston-Salem Journal notes that Republican gubernatorial candidate Fred Smith's 100-county barbecue tour is something of a throwback in the age of mass media.

But it could be a way of reaching out when YouTube, cable TV and the Internet have fractured audiences, argue some political observers.

Several decades ago, "you could go on three broadcast stations and reach everybody in the media market," said Mark Stephens, a political consultant in Raleigh who is not working for any of the candidates running for governor this year. "Now, you’re also seeing a move back to grass-roots campaigning, because even with the larger campaign budgets, you’re still not reaching everybody."

Smith and Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory have aired ads as well. Salisbury attorney Bill Graham plans to advertise before the primary, while former Supreme Court Justice Bob Orr says he doesn't have the money.

Tired of being overweight and unhealthy?

Try one of the personalized workout plans suggested by the Republican gubernatorial candidates tonight.

WEIGHT WATCHERS: Bill Graham says he doesn't get enough exercise, but he tries to watch his weight. "I don't exercise as I should," he said. "I'll admit that."

MAYOR McSTRESS: Pat McCrory says he loses weight—at work. "As mayor of a major city, sometimes I use stress as a way to lose weight. That's not the way to do it."

RUNNING MAN: Bob Orr says he exercises three days a week, even while campaigning. "I certainly wouldn't recommend running for governor as a healthy lifestyle," Orr said.

PICKIN' PIG: Fred Smith said that he sticks to barbecue on his 100-county tour. "I make sure I don't eat any hush puppies or potatoes," he said.

Fred Smith bragged about his company's health care plans.

At the UNC-TV debate tonight, the Republican gubernatorial candidate talked about his businesses' efforts to stress medical testing for its workers.

He then told a story about one employee thanked him for it because he learned that he had high cholesterol during one of the rounds of testing.

Back in the press room, Dome's colleague, Greensboro reporter Mark Binker, wondered aloud how much high cholesterol Smith's statewide barbecue tour has caused in North Carolinians.

Fred Smith spent $1.5 million in 2007.

The Republican gubernatorial candidate's biggest expense was $532,992 to a company run by his chief of staff, Jonathan Hill, for staff salaries and grassroots organizing.

Smith also spent $359,915 to SouthData, a Mount Airy-based printing company that published Smith's autobiography, "A Little Extra Effort," and mailed copies to thousands of North Carolinians.

Hill said that the book was one part of a statewide effort to build name recognition. The other part was a series of barbecues held in all 100 counties.

"We have a long-term plan and we're running that plan," said Hill. "It was to have a conservation with the people across the whole state."

As previously reported, Smith spent more than $90,000 on barbecue alone. He also spent $13,745 on facility rental for the events.

He also paid country singer Lee Greenwood $100,000, spent $176,374 to the producers of his TV ads, paid political consultant Karen Rotterman $45,000 and spent $12,538 on a half-page ad in the Charlotte Observer.

Fred Smith spent $90,670 on barbecue in 2007, according to campaign finance reports filed today.

The Republican gubernatorial candidate has been touring the state in a motorhome, holding old-fashioned pig pickin's to meet with voters.

Campaign manager Jonathan Hill said that his staffers have tasted some of the state's very best, including Alston Bridges in Shelby, Bullock's in Durham and Hursey's Barbecue in Burlington.

They also went to Hill's personal favorite, Parker's Barbecue in Wilson.

Hill, who grew up in Dunn, used to go to Wilson to eat with his brother, who was attending Atlantic Christian College (now Barton College). His mother would always make him wash his hands before eating, and he found that the food was always ready when he came back.

"Every time I go to Parker's, I order and go wash my hands," Hill said. "When I come back, the barbecue'll be there, piping hot."

Hat Tip: Paulette Stiles 

Fred Smith raised $690,922 by the end of 2007.

The Republican gubernatorial candidate raised $632,984 from larger donors, including state Rep. Carolyn Justice, Raleigh attorney Perry Safran and developer Andy Ammons, according to a campaign finance report filed with the State Board of Elections today.

He raised $28,823 from donors who gave less than $50; $14,500 from political action committees, including Progress Energy, Wachovia and Wal-Mart; and $14,500 from political campaigns, including state Reps. Mitch Gillespie and Leo Daughtry.

In addition, he loaned his campaign $1.9 million.

At the same time, Smith spent $1.5 million on barbecue, renting facilities for campaign events, production of television ads, consultants, signs and bumper stickers.

That left him with $1.1 million in cash on hand at the end of the year.

Politics has nothing on the competition among barbecues.

So Dome correspondent Mark Johnson set about to try and settle this particular North v. South dispute.

He chose one of the locations of Maurice's BBQ, a regional chain in Columbia (though a fellow scribe who grew up here recommends Duke's in Orangeburg.) This voter has spoken: North Carolina does it better.

The Palmetto State 'cue wasn't bad, and Dome liked the mustard base enough to try it again. But not if it's
very far off the road. The meat was not nicely shredded, as in the Tar Heel counterpart. It was served with a combination of rice and "hash."

The clerk was unable to identify precisely what was in the "hash" ("parts is parts" perhaps?) but suggested it was "like Brunswick stew." It was not.

To top it off, the hush puppies were overcooked.

No matter what happens Saturday, South Carolina has already lost the barbecue primary.

DOVER, N.H.—Former Sen. John Edwards wrapped up his 36-hour bus marathon Monday night with final stops in Dover, in the east, and Manchester, and with some barbecue.

Now, before you go thinking that Edwards tried to expose New Englanders to a little of Lexington's finest, Dome is selfishly referring to the chow paid for by and consumed by the traveling reporters, Mark Johnson reports.

Large chunks, cubes really, of pork in a tangy southwestern style barbecue sauce served with rice and beans. Needless to say, there was no sweet tea and banana puddin'.

Edwards continued to gin up crowds as one poll showed him surging but others showed little change. Advisers and Edwards himself already are talking about the next states: South Carolina and Nevada. Edwards is likely to focus on South Carolina, where he was born.

The Culinary Workers union in Nevada, a major union force, is expected to endorse Sen. Barack Obama.

A North Carolina sports team is playing for a championship on Friday.

So, naturally, the governor is in a betting mood.

Gov. Mike Easley announced today that he has made a friendly wager with Delaware Gov. Ruth Ann Minner on the national championship game on Friday between the Appalachian State University Mountaineers and the University of Delaware Blue Hens.

Easley is putting up, surprise, a pound of Eastern North Carolina barbecue from Wilbur's in Goldsboro and a pound of western barbecue from the Barbecue Center in Lexington. He'll also throw in a case of Cheerwine.

Minner is putting up what are described as Delaware favorites - Grotto's pizza, Nic-o-Boli's and Dogfish Head root beer.