Yes, it’s an election year.
The Washington Post reported that one of the campaign stops Tuesday for Republican presidential nominee John McCain in St. Louis was at a Route 66 institution — Ted Drewes Frozen Custard.
Dozens of custard buyers were milling about when McCain’s entourage — several SUVs escorted by St. Louis county police cars — pulled up in front of Ted Drewes. The presumptive GOP nominee, accompanied by former Maryland lieutenant governor Michael Steele, got a chocolate concrete. Steele, who told the staff, “Surprise me,” got a strawberry concrete.
At one point McCain entered the store and went to the window to take an order. “Got it? Small chocolate chip concrete!” he barked to the staff.
“It’s an institution,” McCain said as he shook hands with the employees. “Pleasure to see you.” The senator then headed out to the parking lot, where he shook hands with several customers.
Here’s another story about the visit by the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. KMOV-TV also has a video … the Ted Drewes footage is in the beginning.
McCain was in town for a fundraiser, and made a side trip down the Mother Road for dessert.
You watch … Democratic candidate Barack Obama will probably show up at the Cozy Dog Drive-In or some other Route 66 icon in the coming days.