Rick Santorum vs. Michele Bachmann: Former Senator Attacks GOP Hopeful's Iowa Bus Tour

Former Sen. Rick Santorum (R-Pa.) attacked his GOP presidential rival, Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.), over her last-minute bus tour of Iowa's 99 counties.

"I respect the fact that she's trying to get around, but we did a courtship, we didn't speed date," he said Wednesday at a campaign stop in Dubuque, Iowa according to Yahoo! News. "We went out and talked to folks and had coffee with folks and sat with them and answered their questions. We spent, what, an hour and 20 minutes here. You know, we didn't sort of run in and say, 'Hi, I'm great, vote for me.' I don't think that's what Iowans are looking for."

Santorum has made far more campaign stops in Iowa than any other candidate -- 249 to Bachmann's 190, according to the Washington Post. A CNN/Time poll released Wednesday showed Santorum's campaigning paying off, with him placing third in Iowa with 16 percent behind Mitt Romney and Ron Paul at 25 and 22 percent, respectively.

Bachmann started a bus tour of Iowa's 99 counties on Dec. 16. Tuesday she had 10 scheduled events. She was running late by mid-evening by nearly an hour, forcing crowds to listen to surrogates while she made shorter-than-expected appearances, according to the Des Moines Register.

Bachmann lost her Iowa campaign chairman, Kent Sorenson, Wednesday, who said that she is not a "top tier" candidate. He is now supporting Rep. Ron Paul (R-Texas.)

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Comments

[jfbuf]

07:03 PM on 12/30/2011

do I feel sexual tension between these two

[Robinson007]

06:44 PM on 12/30/2011

Crack me up! Her Iowan chairperson (turncoat) leaves her because he says that *she's* not top tier. Well, neither is Ron Paul (to whom he's now enamored) and he certainly isn't either for making such a move at the last minute. He even was with her in the morning before being with him in the afternoon! Top tier, my foot! :-)

[oldgrendel]

05:04 PM on 12/30/2011

Speed date?
She's just looking for more free meals.

[Ppossom]

04:07 PM on 12/30/2011

What kind of a flake runs from Bachmann to Ron Paul?

[airforcevet43]

01:34 PM on 12/30/2011

SPEED-DATING;

The place you find yourself when desperation sets in!

[theiFyoU]

12:43 PM on 12/30/2011

These two need to dump the gayish husband/manly wife and hook up.

[JRCNSSWV]

11:48 AM on 12/30/2011

Rick Santorum is all about his twisted, hate-filled, and often misinterpretation of the Scriptures to fit his agenda.

Iowa should be the end of the road for him. America is not electing a Preacher-in-Chief, especially one who is as full of hate as he.

[truly moderate]

11:15 AM on 12/30/2011

I like Michelle Bachman far more than Rick Sanatarium. Michelle Bachman is firm with backbone, but respective in her comments. I think she is a very genuine person.

I do disagree with SEVERAL Bachman viewpoints (especially the socially conservative ones and eliminating departments instead of simply reforming them for better efficiency). However, I respect her as a candidate.

Unless Huntsman get the nomination (unlikely), my vote will probably rest with president Obama though. I've lost respect for Newt. I like Romney but feel Obama is a better choice between the two. Huntsman (from the beginning) has remained my choice candidate for several months.

[52tucker]

11:12 AM on 12/30/2011

Bottom tier bottom feeders bickering. Awesome. Republicans, keep eating each other whole.

[Old Yaller Dog]

11:02 AM on 12/30/2011

This is the dictionary definition of a "tempest in a tea pot". They're fighting over a 15% share of votes, will soon disappear from the race to the nomination and, truth be told, neither never had even the remotest of chance to be nominated.

[wishescometrue]

10:57 AM on 12/30/2011

Sorensen; fair weather friend. sad. Sorry, Michelle. Go back to your home district and convince your constituents you are still worthy of their vote: for Congress.

[gomiste]

10:54 AM on 12/30/2011

These two clowns belong in a cult, not in our politics. PA did the right thing booting Santorum out so what's wrong with Minnesota? Hopefully more voters there are now embarassed that Bachmann is their representative and will boot her too. They've brought this race so far to the right that whoever ends up with the nomination will have a lot of explaining to do to us Independents.

[frankieshoes1]

10:53 AM on 12/30/2011

Like two hyenas fighting for the leftovers.

[raviandsonia]

10:47 AM on 12/30/2011

Bachmann ......... speed dating ........... Now that's funny.
Are there that many idiotic people in Iowa to follow this pied piper?

[goodmarina]

10:23 AM on 12/30/2011

I sense some sexual tension between Santorum and Bachmann ... b/c they always seem to be so obsessed with other people's sex lives and morality ...  I think this political theater is pure foreplay for these two desparados!

:P

[Henwood]

10:56 AM on 12/30/2011

Ewww