Bachmann draws few at campaign events

EARLY, Iowa - After drawing relatively large crowds on her 99-county Iowa bus tour, Rep. Michele Bachmann on Friday had trouble attracting many voters to two campaign events.

The Minnesota congresswoman - who has seen her support plummet in recent polls -- started her day in Sioux City, where she intended to meet with voters over breakfast at the Black Bear Diner. Before the event began, however, the diner's general manager and employees told reporters that they were unaware she was campaigning in the restaurant. Bachmann's campaign blamed the lack of interest on last-minute scheduling problems with organizing the events for the day, and the congresswoman herself said she was aiming for spontaneity.

"This is completely different than the 99 county tour," Bachmann said. "We had unparalleled success and this was something that was spontaneous, where we just dropped in."

At her next meet-and-greet at Early's Crossroads Restaurant, only a handful of supporters showed up, drawing an explanation from Rep. Steve King, R-Iowa. "When you drop into Early, Iowa, and it is essentially a surprise drop in into Early, Iowa there is not going to be a great crowd," he said.

King called Bachmann a "great friend," but stopped short of endorsing her. "There are so many components to this race, so many dynamics to this race. But it's far too complicated to explain it here today," he said.