Rhode Island's tasty calamari platter wins DNC roll call of states - CNET

This story is part of Elections 2020, CNET's coverage of the run-up to voting in November.

The roll call of states looked a little different than usual at Tuesday night's Democratic National Convention. Since the coronavirus outbreak prevented representatives of the 57 states and territories from gathering in person, they filmed individual videos in various home locations. Some were touching, some were inspirational, some were lively -- and then there was America's smallest state, Rhode Island, which got downright fishy.

In the state's video, filmed on Oakland Beach in Warwick, Rep. Joseph McNamara noted that Rhode Island's restaurant and fishing industries have been "decimated by this pandemic," and praised Gov. Gina Raimondo for allowing seafood to be sold directly to the public.

"Our state appetizer, calamari, is available in all 50 states," McNamara said, as Executive Chef John Bordieri from Iggy's Boardwalk Restaurant stood next to him, silently holding a giant platter of the fried squid. "The calamari comeback state of Rhode Island casts one vote for Bernie Sanders and 34 votes for the next president Joe Biden!"

Rhode Island was quite possibly the only state that offered up regional eats during its brief appearance, and viewers hungered for more.

"We are casting these votes for Biden, or the platter gets it," wrote one Twitter user.

So is this a contest? Because Rhode Island wins.

— Sam T. (@samuelt22223) August 19, 2020

I guess when Rhode Island drops "and Providence Plantations" they can add "and Calamari as our state appetizer."

— This American Adam (@adamconner) August 19, 2020

There’s a ‘squid pro quo’ joke in there somewhere

— Kalamazoo Jambo (@KalamazooJambo) August 19, 2020

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