Whether it's in the east or in the west, Fred Smith says he loves North Carolina barbecue.

That's why the state senator and leading 2008 Republican gubernatorial candidate has dedicated his campaign to sharing the Southern tradition at gatherings in every county in the state.

Tuesday, Smith and his team fired up the grill during stops in Edgecombe and Nash counties.

"I believe a political campaign needs to be a conversation with the people," Smith said to a crowd of about 100 people at Nash Central High School. "You cannot have a conversation with the people unless you go to the people."

Earlier in the day, Smith shared the same message with local supporters at Abram's Restaurant in Tarboro. The first-term state senator discussed his views on hot-button issues such as education reform and the growth of government during his speeches; but no topic stirred the crowds, it seemed, more than illegal immigration did.

The crowd applauded and a few even stood to cheer after Smith explained his plans for tightening policy to keep illegal immigrants out of North Carolina.

"I always like to distinguish between legal and illegal immigration," Smith said earlier in the day during a Telegram interview. "With legal immigration, I think we need to have a big heart because we are all a part of that. But we need a firm hand in enforcing the laws of the land, especially dealing with illegal immigration."

One of those laws, Smith said, deals with illegal immigrants in higher education. Earlier this month, Smith wrote a letter to N.C. Attorney General Roy Cooper's office to request a legal opinion about admitting illegal aliens to community colleges - a policy that Smith said violates federal policy.

The topic hit a nerve with the crowds Tuesday.

"If they want to allow illegal immigrants to attend community college, there is a right way of doing it," Smith said. "It needs to go through the General Assembly. We need to have legal ways to meet economic needs."

Some in the Nash County crowd stood again when Smith said he would "fight to defend the family," which he said is under attack. Marriage, Smith added, only should be between a man and a woman. Falling in line with most other Southern states, he intends to push a constitutional amendment to enforce that.

Smith also attempted to draw a distinction between himself and Gov. Mike Easley.

"Like Mr. Easley, my liberal Democratic friends who are running for governor want to be governor of the government," Smith said. "I'm running to be the governor of the people. I believe people are our number one strength."

Edgecombe and Nash counties marked the 65th and 66th stops on Smith's barbecue tour.

Based on an October survey, Smith leads the two other top Republican candidates - Bill Graham and Robert Orr - in name recognition and likability. He said he credits that to his drive to connect with people.

With that goal in mind, Smith hired country music legend Lee Greenwood earlier this year to write and record a campaign theme song titled, "From Good to Great," which plays at each of his campaign stops.

"When we play that song, it really gets people fired up," Smith said. "It's a way to get people emotionally excited about the campaign."

So is the pulled-pork barbecue, Smith added.