ABC: Obama Drinks an Array of Beers During Campaign Stops to Appeal to 'Diverse Working-Class Crowd

President Obama could be seen drinking a Miller Lite "one minute," and a "cold bottle of Bud" the next during last week's campaign stops, according to ABC, in an effort to "appeal to the loyalties of a diverse working-class crowd."

Describing the scene as a "hallmark of the Obama message machine," ABC continues:

With meticulous attention to detail, Team Obama has generated a bevy of positive local media headlines on its swing through Ohio and Pennsylvania, two must-win states. His team has also lodged a fresh round of negative attacks on vacationing rival Mitt Romney, who has struggled to respond.

[...]

Before manicured patriotic backdrops in town parks and diners, Obama presented a soft and personal side, highlighting stories about his family and upbringing, a new emphasis in his stump aimed at reconnecting with the blue-collar base.  [Emphasis added]

The strategy is quite a change from what Thomas Edsall described in a November article for the New York Times.  He wrote at the time that "...preparations by Democratic operatives for the 2012 election make it clear for the first time that the party will explicitly abandon the white working class."

In contrast, Obama is now seemingly ingratiating himself with what ABC describes as working-class voters.

“I had a beer in Amherst, at Ziggy’s, so I’m feeling good...Feeling steady,” the president said of his campaign stop in Ohio.

Described as "bus tour optics," ABC says that Obama has plenty of reasons to feel confident, despite the dismal June jobs report.

(Related: 'Don't Read Too Much Into It': June Jobs Report Marks 32nd Time WH Advises Voters to Ignore Data)

Would you ever consider voting for someone because of the beer they drink?  Are these "campaign optics" effective?

After all, one local patron offered to vote for the president if he could beat him in an arm-wrestling match.

Politico recounts:

"I'll arm-wrestle you for your vote," Hawks told the president.

"No, I'll play basketball for your vote," Obama quipped.

"You're in a building that has Fox News on," Hawks told Obama.

Obama then suggested that Hawks ask for the channel to be changed. "The customer is always right," Obama [noted].