Report from Waterloo, Iowa GOP Event: Rick Perry Arrived Early and Greeted Every Table Personally; Michele Bachmann Did Not Mix with Crowd Before the Event – 8/14/11

Hot Air’s Ed Morrissey was in the room tonight in Waterloo, Iowa to hear Texas Gov. Rick Perry and GOP Rep. Michele Bachmann speak to the Blackhawk County Republicans. It was Perry’s first foray into Iowa, and in Bachmann’s backyard – literally – the town where she grew up and where she announced her Presidential Campaign.

Captain Ed reports some very interesting things. He particularly notes that Rick Perry arrived early and personally went to every table in the room, greeting people. In stark contrast, Bachmann did not arrive early, and after Perry spoke, her people apparently insisted “the lighting” be changed for her prior to her speech.

HOT AIR (Ed Morrissey): . . . .Perry spoke of the difficult farming life and his formative years in small-town Texas, as well as spending a surprising amount of time talking about his military experience. At one point, he got a rousing cheer from the crowd when he pledged to make the presidency regain the respect of men and women in uniform. Perry also talked about jobs, and how his record shows that he can fix what’s ailing the nation. The crowd reacted with enthusiasm, interrupting Perry a number of times with applause and cheers.

If Iowans were angry about his decision to skip Ames, it didn’t manifest itself here. Perry got plenty of enthusiasm from the crowd.

In contrast, Bachmann’s reception seemed less enthusiastic. The lighting had to be changed before Bachmann spoke, apparently at the campaign’s insistence, which delayed her entrance and interfered with the timing of her entrance announcement. But more puzzlingly, Bachmann didn’t arrive to mix with the crowd before the event started, waiting until she was scheduled to speak to enter the Electric Ballroom. Perry arrived early and greeted every table, the kind of retail politics that Iowa usually rewards — and that Iowans expect. . . . Read More

From Morrissey’s perspective, he felt Perry came out on top for the evening, with no signs that Iowans are holding the timing of Perry’s announcement against him – at least in Waterloo.

Here is a video clip (Via HotAirPundit) from Perry’s speech in Waterloo tonight:

UPDATE: Politico has a devastating article about the contrast at this event between Rick Perry and Michele Bachmann – Rick Perry Schools Michele Bachmann in Waterloo