Launched in 1940 in Knoxville, Tennessee, it boasts more than 80 years of history and is familiar with Korea as well. Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz of the Democratic Party and Senator J.D. Vance of the Republican Party have both expressed their affection for the drink, which USA Today said was “bipartisan bubble.”
Walz and Vance chose “Diet Mountain Dew.” A 12-ounce (about 350 ml) can holds 54 milligrams of caffeine, overwhelming diet PepsiCo (35 milligrams) and diet Coca-Cola (46 milligrams). According to Beverage Digest, which measures beverage sales in the U.S., Diet Mountain Dew accounts for about 1.9 percent of the entire soda market. Although it has little presence, it boasts a history of more than 80 years, making it one of the top 10 beverages. PepsiCo acquired Mountain Dew in 1964, and it gained popularity among rural teenagers and blue-collar workers. The word “Mountain Dew” itself is an Appalachian slang term for moonlight. Both Walz and Vance are white people from the Midwest who came across the beverage at an early age, and they are mentioned in Vance’s memoir, “The Song of Hillbilly.” Republican vice presidential candidate J.D. Vance (left) recently appeared on Newsmax to drink Diet Mountain Dew with the host, and Republican vice presidential candidate J.D. Vance appeared on Newsmax to drink it with the host.
“High caffeine, low calorie Diet Mountain Dew is a good product,” Vance said in a recent appearance on Newsmax. Kamala Harris’ campaign edited and posted a video highlighting this scene, attacking her as “Vance is getting weirder and weirder.” However, it immediately faced headwinds. Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, a Democrat, attacked Vance, saying, “Who drinks Mountain Dew?” and “He’s from an insincere Appalachian.” He corrected himself by saying, “I drank Diet Mountain Dew yesterday and again today, and they would call me a racist.” “But it tastes good.” Walz, who has been drawing attention as a “midwestern man” on social media since his nomination, has also shown his affection for the drink. “There is nothing better than starting a day with Diet Mountain Dew,” he said in 2019 when he posted a picture of a bottle of Mountain Dew with a Minnesota phrase on it on X. When his team held a surprise birthday party for Walz in April this year, he said, “Of course, I prepared Diet Mountain Dew.” Even when Walz was a congressman and governor, he was often caught drinking or carrying Mountain Dew in public. Walz almost quit his teaching career in 1995 when he was a high school teacher due to speeding and reckless driving. Since then, he stopped drinking altogether, and the drink that soothed his soul was Mountain Dew. Walz himself even joked, “I’m willing to drink a 52-ounce (1.5L) bottle for breakfast,” but local media.
SALLY LEE
US ASIA JOURNAL
