What do the following words have in common?

GIRLS
DUTCH
TRAVELER
REEL
RED
LOBSTER
PRIMARY
CAUCUS
SECOND
WALTZ
POTATO
YANKEE


Answers:

Each word can be preceded by the name of a state to form a common phrase:

CALIFORNIA GIRLS
PENNSYLVANIA DUTCH

ARKANSAS TRAVELER
RHODE ISLAND RED
MAINE LOBSTER
VIRGINIA REEL
NEW HAMPSHIRE PRIMARY
IOWA CAUCUS
NEW YORK SECOND*
TENNESSEE WALTZ
IDAHO POTATO
CONNECTICUT YANKEE

*The time between the light turning green and the car behind you honking.