[ti:A Tradition for US Presidential Candidates: The Iowa State Fair] [by:www.51voa.com] [00:00.00]更多听力请访问51VOA.COM [00:00.60]This weekend, presidential candidates in the United States are taking part in a campaign tradition: the Iowa State Fair. [00:13.60]The yearly event includes games, competitions, alcoholic drinks, and unusual traditional foods. [00:23.84]During election season, candidates meet possible voters who are attending the fair. [00:31.24]These voters are especially important because they will have the first chance to identify their favorite candidates. [00:41.56]Since 1980, more than half the candidates who won an early voting event in Iowa went on to win their party's nomination. [00:52.08]So the Iowa state fair is important for the candidates. [00:57.08]But often, candidates do not leave voters with a good opinion. [01:03.44]Part of the difficulty is that candidates are expected to take part in many of the activities at the fair. [01:13.56]For example, some food sellers offer deep-fried Oreos – cookies cooked in very hot oil. [01:24.60]Others sell meat covered in bread covered in more meat. [01:32.00]But these foods may not appeal to candidates. [01:36.80]For example, a candidate in 2003 took one bite of the Oreo cookie and threw the rest away. [01:48.88]One of this year's candidates, Tulsi Gabbard, does not eat meat. [01:54.84]Another, Cory Booker, does not eat any kind of food from an animal. [02:02.24]Drinking beer is also a popular activity at the fair. [02:07.84]But a candidate in 2003 asked for a strawberry yogurt drink instead. [02:16.20]The move made him appear different than the voters he was trying to connect with. [02:23.68]The state fair is also a time to be easy and friendly. [02:28.56]Most people wear clothes like jeans and t-shirts. [02:33.00]But in 2007, one candidate came wearing shoes that cost $500. [02:40.68]And he did not walk in the crowd. [02:43.92]Instead, he rode in a small, open vehicle. [02:48.92]A few months later, that candidate tied for third place with Iowa voters, and soon after withdrew from the campaign. [02:59.52]But some candidates perform well at the fair. [03:04.52]In 2007, then-candidate Barack Obama played on the rides with his children. [03:12.36]In pictures of the event, he and his family are smiling. [03:17.52]He went on to win Iowa's early voting. [03:21.24]Later, he won the national election, too. [03:25.92]When he was a presidential candidate in 2015, Donald Trump, also won the approval of many at the Iowa State Fair – but he did so in an unusual way. [03:40.04]Most candidates try to create an image of being simple people who understand the voters' economic concerns. [03:49.32]But Trump arrived at the fair in his own helicopter. [03:54.16]However, the crowd liked the fact that he let children ride in it. [04:00.04]A few months later, Trump finished second in Iowa's early voting. [04:06.16]This year, at least two candidates are in a good position to appear at ease at the fair. [04:14.80]One is John Hickenlooper. [04:17.88]Before he was the top official of the state of Colorado, he opened a successful beer-making business. [04:28.60]He is planning to pour beer for people attending the fair this weekend. [04:35.28]And candidate Amy Klobuchar says she goes to her state fair every year. [04:43.16]She comes from Minnesota, a state next to Iowa. [04:48.96]Both states have a strong milk products industry. [04:53.84]And both states show artwork, at their fairs, made out of butter. [05:01.96]Klobuchar says she plans on comparing the two states' famous butter sculptures. [05:10.68]Each year in Minnesota, an artist sculpts a representation of a young woman known as Princess Kay of the Milky Way. [05:23.08]And in Iowa, an artist sculpts a representation of a large farm animal. [05:30.88]Klobuchar said, "I am looking very forward to seeing your butter cow at the Iowa State Fair." [05:40.08]I'm Caty Weaver. [05:41.72]And I'm Ashley Thompson. 更多听力请访问51VOA.COM