WOODBRIDGE -- Former President Bill Clinton on Friday gingerly waded into New Jersey's simmering debate over what to call New Jersey's beloved egg, cheese and breakfast meat sandwich.
As he campaigned for his wife Hillary Clinton at the Reo Diner in Woodbridge, NJ Advance Media asked Clinton whether he believed north Jersey's Taylor Ham or south Jersey's pork roll was the proper prefix for the state's popular egg and cheese sandwich.
At first, the former president professed ignorance.
"I wouldn't know," Clinton laughed. "Not a clue."
Just a few weeks ago, none other than President Obama greeted Rutgers students during his commencement speech by saying: "I come here for a simple reason, to finally settle this pork roll versus Taylor ham question. I'm just kidding."
And Gov. Chris Christie says it should be called "Taylor ham, egg and cheese on a hard roll."
So when pressed, Clinton gamely set about weighing the merits of each.
"Taylor Ham sounds leaner," allowed the former president.
"Pork roll sounds like it would taste good, but not be as good for you," laughed Clinton, strolling among the diner on Friday.
Perhaps for those reasons, or perhaps owing to its northern state location in Middlesex County, that's how the sandwich appears on the menu at the Reo Diner: As a "Taylor ham" egg and cheese. It's available 24/7, and will set you back $6.05.
But the 42nd president wasn't going to take any taste tests. He became vegan in 2010 after undergoing emergency cardiac surgery.
Claude Brodesser-Akner may be reached at cbrodesser@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @ClaudeBrodesser. Find NJ.com Politics on Facebook.