Bachmann in West Des Moines

Michele Bachmann made a handful of stops early this afternoon in Valley Junction, a historic shopping district in West Des Moines. I saw her exit her campaign bus in front of Paula's Maid Rite Restaurant and had a chance to meet her outside of Diggity Dog, a local pet supply boutique. After those two stops, Bachmann was going to visit a floral shop, a gift shop, and then hold a media availability in front of her campaign bus.

Bachmann was scheduled to arrive at Paula's at 1:00 in the afternoon, but when I got there 30 minutes early, the restaurant was so packed it was impossible to enter. There was a small cluster of people halfway up the block in front of Diggity Dog. What looked to be the owner was standing outside the store telling two members of the press Bachmann's campaign had called that morning to say she'd be stopping by.

Liking my chances better of meeting the candidate better at that location, I staked out a spot in front of the store. About fifteen minutes later, Bachmann's bus rolled down Elm Street and pulled up in front of Paula's. I ran down the block to snap of few photos of her leaving the bus with her husband, Marcus, and entering the restaurant then hurried back to Diggity Dog to reclaim my piece of sidewalk.

Another fifteen minutes later, Bachmann and a gaggle of perhaps twenty reporters and cameramen made their way up the block and across the street to Diggity Dog. A city bus was momentarily blocked from passing by the flood of people and the driver angrily honked in an effort to get the crowd to move out of the way. Bachmann was animated and personable when she got to the people waiting outside of the store. As she shook hands, she asked each person's name and where they were from and thanked them for being there. I asked if I could get a photo and Bachmann happily obliged as she asked me the same two questions.