Tossing rotten fruit in the Peach State

RUNNING for office in Georgia can be hard on the waistline. At nearly every campaign stop a candidate must sample the local culinary delights, which rarely consist of salad. David Perdue and Jack Kingston, two Republicans tussling for a United States Senate seat, look surprisingly trim despite tucking into turkey and gravy, ice cream, fried fish, bacon-filled biscuits and more besides. The battle has been long, hard and close; perhaps the sheer effort of fighting it has kept them in shape.

Originally there were seven Republicans jostling for the nomination to replace Saxby Chambliss, who is retiring. After a first round of voting, only Mr Perdue and Mr Kingston are left; the run-off is on July 22nd. On policy, there is not much to choose between them. Both are social conservatives. Both revile Obamacare and federal spending; both revere growth and fiscal reform. Their pitches to primary voters therefore stress their personalities, their achievements and the other chap’s flaws.