Posted on 08/15/2011 10:53:08 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
WATERLOO, Iowa — Rick Perry came to Michele Bachmann’s hometown Sunday evening and schooled the newly minted Iowa front-runner in her native state’s demanding retail political culture.
The day after Perry announced his candidacy and Bachmann won the Ames Straw Poll, the two candidates spoke to the Black Hawk County Republican Party’s Lincoln Day dinner, the sort of endless regional event that is a staple of the long Iowa campaign.
Both candidates offered conservative standards, promising to slash government spending and ease regulations to jump-start the private sector economy. Perry promised to use his presidential veto pen “until all ink runs out to get the message across that we’re not spending all the money.” Bachmann pledged to keep faith with evangelical Republicans.
The duo also went to great lengths to burnish their local credentials, with Bachmann celebrating her Waterloo roots repeatedly and Perry name-checking Iowa companies, recalling his own 4-H gold star status and Eagle Scout upbringing, and paying repeated respect to senior Iowa Sen. Chuck Grassley, who maintains a hog farm nearby and was seated in the crowd.
But the contrast that may lift Perry and undermine Bachmann in their high stakes battle for Iowa had less to do with what they said than how they said it — and what they did before and after speaking.
Perry arrived early, as did former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum. The Texas governor let a media throng grow and dissolve before working his way across the room to sit at table after table, shake hand after hand, pose for photographs and listen politely to a windy Abraham Lincoln impersonator, paying respect to a state that expects candidates, no matter their fame, to be accessible.
But Bachmann campaigned like a celebrity. And the event highlighted the brittle, presidential-style cocoon that has become her campaign’s signature: a routine of late entries, unexplained absences, quick exits, sharp-elbowed handlers with matching lapel pins, and pre-selected questioners.
She camped out in her bus, parked on the street in front of a nearby Ramada Hotel, until it was time to take the stage. Even after a local official’s introduction, Bachmann was nowhere to be found. It was not until a second staffer assured her that the lighting had been changed and a second introduction piped over the loudspeakers that she entered the former dance hall here. By the time she made her big entrance to bright lights and blaring music, the crowd seemed puzzled.
Bachmann’s stump speech drew mostly polite applause until she closed by giving a large apple pie to “the oldest mother in the room” — a local centenarian.
Then she stayed on stage, signing T-shirts from above, which her staff then distributed to a steady but not overwhelming crowd.
Finally, she swept through what was by then an empty ballroom behind a phalanx of six aides who shielded her from reporters and the handful of Iowans who remained.
“She kept us waiting, she was not here mixing — then she was talking about what a great evening it was. How do you know? You just got here,” said Karen Vanderkrol, of Hudson, Iowa, who said she agreed with the substance of Bachmann’s speech, but that one line in particular rang false: “I am a real person.”
“She can say she’s real and part of the people, but that’s not what we do,” Vanderkrol said of the congresswoman’s behavior.
Several other attendees seemed to leave similarly disappointed.
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Translation: They’d rather have 0baMao run against Perry.
Don’t be too shocked.
The only thing worse than a white republican is a minority or female republican.
If Michelle Bachmann were a RINO and also black (male or female), a Muslim Republican, a hispanic republican the story would be the same.
They’re looking at her sex (NOT her policies)
They don’t like Perry but they HATE female republicans.
The GOP Establishment apparently tired of hoping Romney would move to the fore. They went with a less palatable (to them) choice - Perry.
If Perry appears to stumble and fall, they will try Chris Christie.
The GOP establishment, with its pro-Islamic, don’t rock the boat unless you have to, live along - go along philosophy with Democrats will not go quietly into the night. They will fight any grass-roots Tea Party candidate EVERY STEP OF THE WAY.
IF, Bachmann manages to win the National Primary, you can expect Establishment Type Republicans to behave EXACTLY as they did in 1964 when Barry Goldwater won the nomination - either merely give lip service to her candidacy - or condemn her as “too extreme” and work for Obama.
Yea, it’s a Bachmann hit piece. But the only reason they can write it is because there is one kernal of truth in it: Bachmann is charisma challenged.
When it comes to working a crowd and chrisma Bachmann isn’t in the same league as Palin or Reagan. Heck, Bachmann makes Romney look almost personable.
I really haven’t seen enough of Perry to make a decision yet, but I have Bachmann. She does not have “it”. Palin has it; Regan had it; I happen to think Cain has it, but Bachmann doesn’t. That, imho, is a problem.
Geez. If that is true, I am losing interest in her. I've already seen that movie before and didn't like the ending i.e.; Obummer. If you are going to run, you need to be in this 100%. Maybe Perry and Santorum are better at campaigning because of their experience in state wide elections. Bachmann may not have enough experience in this style of politics.
You stay classy Rick.
Well that’s obvious but the criticism is valid. Politio isn’t the only place I’ve heard this. She’s not accustomed to a campaign of this magnitude and there’s going to be a learning curve. Nothing wrong with that as long as she actually learns. Over handling is the biggest mistake John McCain made with Sarah Palin. You’d think Bachmann would have known that before the campaign started. And showing up late (too often) illustrates a lack of respect for the people whose vote she’s trying to EARN.
Cindie
You really need to pity these two pathetic “Politico” deadbeat liberals, Obama worshipers!!! The more they chew up Michelle Bachmann,the stronger Michelle becomes!!! Shucks, the word on the street is really and truly, “Anyone But Obama” (ABO), so it does not really matter who the Pubbies nominate. These two fools and the leadership of Politico are literally braindead!!! Hey, dudes, let me give you a clue, no one is listening to a word you write, utter or say!!!! End of story!!!
Sounds like she's been bitten by the bug and it is incurable.
I don't know how many times you've seen her in person, but I can guarantee you that she is a forthright, warm and delightful speaker who has had an enthusiastic response from every audience I've heard her address.
BTW, Palin isn't running, will you support a conservative or does slick looks and slick talk sway you more than conservative values?
You are not seriously buying into the Politico hit piece are you? They are out to irradiate ANY true conservative. Dont buy into the narrative!
Unfortunately, even some FReepers are.
Pollutico has a serious thing for RINOs.
Hey let’s choose our candidate by personal charm vs aloofness!
Or maybe who has better hair.
Principles, issues, record? BAH.
Of course bachmann is lacking sleep after the recent IOWA and media grind, so maybe it’s an unfair comparison anyhow.
I agree with your analysis of Bachmann, but what worries me even more are the things being said about her husband’s profession of working to “ungay” people & calling young homosexual men barbarians. Doesn’t sound very much like a Christian to me.
Repeat after me:
2,4,6,8
Who do we appreciate?
Bachmann (pause)
Bachmann (pause)
Bachmann (pause>
The fact that they are now fawning over Perry, while attacking Michelle, does not augur well for Cons like me thinking he might be someone I could support.
Just like Palin, this Shakepeare quote applies to Bachman as well: "In time we hate that which we often fear”.
I guess that pretty much sums it up; POLITICO and the MSM "fear" Michelle (as they do Palin) thus their incessant and fixated attempts to DESTROY both.
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