ABC Reports: Fighting county by county, handshake by handshake, GOP contenders Rep. Michele Bachmann and Gov. Rick Perry twice crossed paths today in the northwest corner of Iowa, each hoping that time spent on the ground here will equal votes come the first in the nation caucuses on Jan 3.
Both candidates are lagging in the polls despite the socially conservative bona fides that Republican Iowa caucus-goers traditionally look for. Iowa voters routinely say they make their decision only after shaking a candidate’s hand, and each is hoping that old-school retail politics, gruelingly practiced on days-long bus tours will be the key to their success.
Perry and Bachmann both spent Friday night in Spencer, Iowa, even staying at the same hotel. Their giant tour buses, wrapped with campaign logos, were parked just feet apart.
At events today in Spencer and Algona, held sometimes moments apart and just a few miles away from each other, voters had to choose between which candidate to meet.
