Bachmann visits the Bluffs

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COUNCIL BLUFFS — Supporters of Republican presidential hopeful Michele Bachmann say she still has a shot at winning over Iowans before the Jan. 3 caucuses.

The Minnesota congresswoman, whose poll numbers have plummeted since she won the Ames straw poll in the summer, was in Council Bluffs on Sunday to sign copies of her book, "Core of Conviction." Bachmann is making stops across the state — she was in Sioux City earlier Sunday — to meet with potential voters, whose support she needs to pull off victory in the caucuses.

Polls this month pegged Bachmann in fourth, fifth or sixth place among likely Iowa GOP caucusgoers.

"She can pull it together," said Willard Fritz of Oakland, Iowa. "But it's going to be tough." Added Fritz's wife, Marilyn: "There's a lot of good candidates out there right now."

Like the Fritzes, most of the people who waited in line to meet Bachmann at the Holiday Inn paid $25 for a copy of her book. Bachmann signed copies and posed for photos.

Bachmann is a Waterloo, Iowa, native who moved to Minnesota at age 13. She said her values will appeal to hard-working Iowans. She also said they would get to know her better by reading her book.

"I wrote this book because I want people to know, in an unfiltered way, who I am," she said. "These core convictions I learned ... here in Iowa."

Bachmann may have her work cut out for her. She has some popular and powerful competitors, including Mitt Romney, Newt Gingrich and Herman Cain.

Bachmann acknowledged that her campaign has struggled recently, but she compared it with the stock market: "You go up and down."

She said she plans to continue to reach out to Iowans over the next few weeks and try to generate more support.

"I'm a citizen politician," she said.

Rachel Costello of Imogene, Iowa, said she hadn't yet decided which GOP candidate to support. But she said she planned to read Bachmann's book.

Costello speculated that Bachmann's popularity started to decline after Texas Gov. Rick Perry announced his candidacy. "I think a lot of people who supported her liked what he had to say," Costello said.

So, can Bachmann pull it off?

"No, I don't think so," said Dick Baber of Council Bluffs.

Bachmann supporter Lenny Scaletta, who leads a Council Bluffs Tea Party group, disagreed.

"I think Iowans are still making up their minds," he said.

Contact the writer: 402-444-3100, maggie.obrien@owh.com

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