COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA - DECEMBER 27: Texas Governor and Republican candidate for president Rick Perry speaks to supporters during a campaign stop at the Main Street Cafe on December 27, 2011 in Council Bluffs, Iowa.
Posted on 12/28/2011 1:33:52 AM PST by Cincinatus' Wife
Michele Bachmann and Rick Perry are competing for many of the same voters. They’re even trudging similar paths. Both launched their final week of campaigning before the Iowa Caucus with events in Council Bluffs. They also spent the day spreading their conservative message throughout southwest Iowa.
However, the dual appearances in Council Bluffs provided stark contrasts. Bachmann’s campaign scheduled a visit to the tiny Scooter’s coffee shop. It was primarily an opportunity for Bachmann to receive media coverage from the Omaha TV market. Only a handful of local voters showed up, but media from around the country attended.
Bachmann arrived 30 minutes late, due to plane issues. She began reading prepared remarks off of an IPad. Bachmann then answered a few questions from reporters, signed a couple of autographs, and went on her way.
A few miles away, more than 125 caucus goers jammed into the Main Street Café to see Rick Perry. The Texas governor arrived about 15 minutes late. He had to enter the room through the kitchen because there was simply no way to fit through the other entrances. Attendees were virtually hanging from the rafters.
Perry was accompanied by Joe Arpaio, the outspoken sheriff of Maricopa County in Arizona. He is a conservative favorite who is renowned for his strong stances on illegal immigration. The event lasted only 10 minutes, with Perry hammering conservative red meat issues and playing up his outsider status.
“I’ve got all of the respect in the world for the frontrunners in this race, but ask yourself, if we replace a Democrat insider with a Republican insider, you think we’re going to really change Washington, D.C.,” Perry quizzed the crowd.
The quick visit was well received. “I’ve always been impressed with Perry as a person,” attendee Carl Heinrich said. “So many people evaluate the candidates on their ability to speak or their ability to debate and to me that is so superficial. The thing that I look for is the depth, the character, whether they’re conservative or not, what they say in terms of the issues that are important to me.” Heinrich, like many Iowans, is still undecided on who he will vote for on caucus night.
When comparing the two events in Council Bluffs, there is no question that Perry’s was more successful at the ultimate goal, which is to drive people to support you on caucus night. Although Bachmann received some coverage from the local media, so did Perry. He also made his pitch to some of the top conservative activists in one of the state’s largest and most conservative counties.
Later in the day, Bachmann fell further behind schedule. She arrived almost an hour late for a stop at the Pizza Ranch in Harlan. Acolytes Danny Carroll and Tamara Scott filled in for the Minnesota congresswoman as the crowd waited. They voiced critical comments against most of Bachmann’s fellow GOP contenders, as well as the media.
Scott even berated TheIowaRepublican.com for reporting on Bachmann’s frequent tardiness, saying it was “dishonest”. 54 minutes after the scheduled start time, the Minnesota congresswoman finally arrived. Honestly.
The majority of the 40 attendees remained to hear her speech. Bachmann spoke for a total of 15 minutes, while taking questions on topics like Israel, the second amendment and biofuels. She also pointed out the differences between her and the rest of the GOP field.
“I want more jobs for more Iowans. I know how to do it because I am a job creator, unlike Mitt Romney who has sent jobs out of the United States,” Bachmann said. “That’s what I know how to do. No other candidate knows the tax code like I do because I was a federal tax attorney.”
Shelby County GOP Chairman Larry Madson was impressed with the size of Bachmann’s crowd and the overall event. “Santorum had about nine people here. Pawlenty drew between 25-30. Maybe it’s because we’re so close to caucus, but she packed the place,” Madson said. “I think she’s going to do well in Shelby County.”
Later in the afternoon, Rick Perry drew a crowd of around 125 to the Adams Street Espresso shop in Creston. It was by far the biggest crowd for any GOP candidate in Union County this year. The event started right on time.
Perry was interrupted for applause several times and spent significant time answering questions from the audience. The Texas governor stuck to his anti-Washington theme throughout the event and made another pitch for his plan of a part-time congress. “Let’s cut their salaries, cut the amount of time they spend in Washington, “Perry said to applause. “Let them live with their constituents and live with their laws that they’ve passed.”
Although the audience liked what Rick Perry had to say, the event did not close the deal with the attendees TheIowaRepublican.com spoke to. “Somebody named Rick,” Jerry Hartman said regarding his vote on Tuesday. “I’ve narrowed it down to two. I thought he did a really nice job. He answered the questions honestly. What I like about him is he speaks from the heart. He tells it like it is.”
After the Creston event, Perry ventured to Osceola. Michele Bachmann will visit both of those towns on Wednesday. She is clearly making more campaign stops, but one has to wonder if quality will trump quantity. Southwest Iowa is not heavily populated, for the most part. However, it is a conservative section of the state that is being ignored by other campaigns. The candidates are wise to spend time there.
Go Michele!!!! President Bachmann sounds incredible!!!! What a wonderful family to have in the White House. I would take Santorum family too. Maybe a Santorum/Bachmann or other way around ticket. If that were to happen, we would FINALLY have a conservative ticket.
She is clearly making more campaign stops, but one has to wonder if quality will trump quantity. Southwest Iowa is not heavily populated, for the most part. However, it is a conservative section of the state that is being ignored by other campaigns. The candidates are wise to spend time there.
What a ridiculous statement. First they basically say that she is doing too much but then they say it is a good idea for the candidates to visit. It appears that at least recently Perry and Bachmann are the only ones visiting. I don’t see anything wrong with it at all. Heck if you can get some of those folks to support either one that could make a difference. Santorum visited there sometime this year. I don’t know what Newt is doing as he has only spent about 600K in Iowa....not near enough to campaign with. Which since I don’t want Newt, I am happy that he MIGHT not do well. He has zero money so I don’t know how he will continue.
I attended the event in Creston and am so glad I made the drive. It was a GREAT event. Perry took his time, there was a huge crowd and his message was well received.
Sheriff Joe was with him which is a powerful endorsement.
Thank you CGG. I wish I could have been there.
Then Gov. Perry spoke. It is clear, he has found his groove and it almost got better when he took to sitting on a stool and took questions from the crowd.
Perry gave strong answers and many times was interrupted with applause. He took his time and then shook hands with attendees as he left.
Right now, we're experiencing unusually warm weather for Iowa and it looks like it might hold for the caucuses.
I was especially pleased at the size of the crowd and from my understanding Perry is getting large crowds.
This is all good and it comes from Rick Perry being one of, and with, the people.
There was definitely a connection. We’ll see what happens but he is attracting very impressive crowds.
I’m curious what attracts you to Perry threads. Now, I know that Bachmann featured on this thread in a small way, but I have to say, I don’t wish you well as I have concluded that your purpose is meaningless petty needling of Perry supporters.
There is nothing ridiculous about the statement you complain of. Bachmann is clearly speaking to much smaller groups, rushing through the day, running late, and generally flailing. On the other hand, Perry is in his stride, attracting large groups, getting a very positive response, and building momentum.
It’s been reported that the Des Moines Register has pulled its top political reporter off Gingrich and put him on Perry.
For me the news is pretty heartening. Apparently not so much for you.
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Perry is absolutely ready.
Perry is absolutely ready.
You can tell he really LOVES being with the peoeple, it’s when he really shines. I think people respond to that too.
One problem: Michele didn’t ‘go.’ She was late, disorganized and had few supporters attending her events.
I like the lady also. She needs to stay in congress where she can do some good and she needs to realize that right now.
Another problem: If she does drop out, I would not be surprised if she endorsed Romney. Isn’t that special?
I loved that photo also and I know Rick Perry was perfectly at ease with the child touching his face.
Unlike the other guy.
Oh, John.
That comment is so dead on.
You should have been here (on Perry threads) back in the day.
Meaningless petty needling on Perry threads was an olympic sport for a small but nasty group of people.
They even had a ping list. Every time a Perry thread was posted they pinged each other and came on here to ...
well, ‘meaningless petty needling’ doesn’t even begin to describe the kind of posts they would make.
I never understood why they thought it was a good or useful thing to do, but maybe they had nothing else to do.
I’d love to get one of them on a couch (no, not like that) but a psychiatrist couch and ask them why that seemed to be their one joy in life.
Oh, well, I digress, but your post brought it all back.
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