By: Bob Steinburg

For more than 140 years, Tar Heels have discussed the issues of the day over heaping platters of fried chicken, barbecue, coleslaw and hush puppies. In North Carolina, home cooking is as much a part of politics as the issues and candidates themselves.

State Sen. Fred Smith from Johnston County is one of four Republican candidates vying for the 2008 gubernatorial nomination. While most of the GOP candidates hold similar views, albeit different solutions on the state's major challenges and problems, Smith's campaign approach is unique.

"Fred," as he likes to be called, decided early on in his campaign that he wanted to have a conversation with as many North Carolinians as possible to learn first hand about their hopes and fears, as well as their concerns and disappointments. So he launched the "Fred Smith's Statewide BBQ Tour." His first stop last August was in Haywood County in western North Carolina. On March 18, when he rolls into Pasquotank County, he will have visited each of the state's 100 counties.

I was in Washington County last week, not exactly a bastion of Republican strength, for one of Fred Smith's events. Longtime Washington County Republican Chairman Eddy Browning is renowned in Raleigh and throughout the state for personally knowing almost every voter in his county, as well as their party affiliation.

Browning told me that most of the more than 200 people gathered to hear Smith were Democrats. The entire evening seemed more like a Grange meeting than a political event. Everyone appeared as comfortable with "Fred" as he did with them.

The former Wake Forest University football player concentrated on his conservative values, highlighting those that most North Carolinians traditionally hold dear: family, faith in God, hard work, low taxes, and foremost - open and honest government.

Smith, a successful small businessman, pointed out that 80 percent of the jobs created in North Carolina are from small businesses. But because North Carolina has the highest overall taxes in the Southeastern United States, he pledged to create a tax environment that will foster continued growth and jobs.

When Smith first started campaigning for governor, he said he believed immigration, taxes and employment would be the biggest issues. While high on their list of importance, the recent corruption scandals in Raleigh have shaken the confidence of many North Carolinians in state government. Now most people are telling him they want to see honest government above anything else.

At the end of the evening, everyone stood and sang "God Bless America." Looking around the room and observing young and old, healthy and infirm, my eyes welled, touched by the love and devotion these Eastern North Carolinians have for God and country.

Standing at the exit at the back of the room, Smith then personally thanked folks for coming. He listened to each of their concerns. Those in line waited patiently for their turn with the senator.

"Senator, I'm a Democrat you know," one woman told Smith. "Yes ma'am, but I still need your help," he replied. As she walked out the door, she picked up Fred Smith yard signs, bumper stickers and literature.

It didn't matter that Smith is a Republican and she is a Democrat. He touched on problems - and values - that are most important to voters of both parties. It was clear: corruption has no place in our state's politics. It also was evident: dealing with immigration, taxes, creating jobs, and lowering taxes is imperative. Party affiliation aside, change needs to happen now.