Key to Obama Victory: Beer?

Mitt Romney doesn't touch a drop; George W. Bush swore it off. But for President Obama, beer—and his affection for it—has come up quite often in the last few days. Obama bought supporters a round at the Iowa State Fair, discussed the White House's own brewing efforts (it has made three kinds thus far, all using honey from the first lady's garden), and shared his plans to crack open a cold one on the bus. Indeed, his trip though Iowa could be called "the Iowa Beer Tour," notes the Washington Post. And it could be a winning strategy, the Post reports.

That's because the independents he and Romney are trying to woo are fans of the stuff. Some 35% of independents say they've had a beer in the past month, compared to 30% of Democrats and 27% of Republicans. That edge jumps when microbrews are concerned, to 45%, 25%, and 23%, respectively. Obama's beer fascination isn't new. He was photographed drinking it in Iowa in 2006; he gulped a glass with Medal of Honor recipient Dakota Meyer; and of course, there was the Henry Louis Gates Jr. "beer summit." Audiences seem to love it: In Iowa, as the president discussed the brews, they chanted, "Four more beers!" (More President Obama stories.)