bumbo: rum punch
In colonial America and the early United States, treating the voters to food and drink—especially drink—was essential if a candidate hoped to get elected. This practice was known as swilling the planters with bumbo, or making sure they were provided with plenty of rum punch at campaign events. "Planters" was shorthand for "male landowners," the only early American citizens who could vote. Virginian Theodorick Bland used the term in a 1765 letter: "Our friend . . . has been very much ingaged [sic] ever since the dissolution of the assembly, in swilling the planters with bumbo, and I dare say . . . will be elected."
Even George Washington was not above providing a good swill for the voters. When he ran for the colonial Virginia legislature in 1758 he authorized his agent to provide 391 voters and their guests with 160 gallons of wine, beer, rum, and other spiritous beverages. His only concern, as he mentioned later to his agent, was "that you spent with too sparing a hand." He didn't need to worry. One and a half quarts of liquor per voter was plenty to get him elected.