A Unique Approach to the Presidential Beer Question

It’s a question that has been asked in every presidential election: which candidate would you rather have a beer with? And in the case of Ron DeSantis, the answer seems to be a resounding “no thanks.”

DeSantis, the Florida governor known for his ongoing feud with Disney, recently held a campaign event in New Hampshire. The event, originally priced at $50 per ticket, was aimed at giving attendees the chance to have a beer with the governor. However, due to low sales, the tickets were drastically reduced to just $1.

Despite the incredibly low price, only 30 people showed up for the event. It seems that DeSantis might not have the charm or the appeal to draw a crowd for a casual beer. But what he does have is a surplus of leftover beer.

Originally, the New Hampshire Home Builders Association (NHBA) had made the event free for its members and charged $50 for nonmembers. In an attempt to fill the room, the association decided to drop the price to just $1 for nonmembers. This nominal fee was introduced to prevent people from reserving tickets with fake or malicious intent.

When asked about the low attendance, NHBA executive director Matt Mayberry explained that the $1 token fee was aimed at preventing event reservations from malicious actors. He stated, “I charged a token $1 because the ‘bots’ fill up events with bad emails.”

The underwhelming turnout at the “FREE BEER! Now That I’ve Got Your Attention, Vote For Ron” campaign stop was ridiculed by journalist Jonathan Allen on MSNBC. In response to anchor Ana Cabrera’s question about whether DeSantis is the kind of person people want to have a beer with, Allen quipped, “Maybe they should have offered something harder, Ana… Maybe half a bottle of liquor or something.”

Perhaps it’s safe to say that DeSantis’ appeal as a beer companion is lacking, but who knows? Maybe a gallon of milk would be more his speed.

Regardless of the humorous takeaways from this event, it sheds light on the importance of understanding a candidate’s likability and relatability. The “beer question” may seem trivial, but it speaks to the larger issue of connecting with voters on a personal level. Being able to appeal to the common person and engage in casual conversation can go a long way in winning over hearts and minds.

So, as the next presidential election approaches, candidates should take note: it’s not just about their policies and ideologies—it’s about whether or not people would actually want to grab a beer with them. Cheers to that!