tonight the road to 2012 has brought us to the iowa state fair grounds in beautiful des moines, iowa.[ cheering ] >> sean: thousands to kickoff this special show. she is on the latest leg of her one nation bus tour. once again turning heads with a visit to this very key state. joining us now, sarah palin. [ cheering and applause ] >> sean: i could save the best question for last. but we have a straw poll tomorrow. you are here at the fairgrounds. i think a lot of people might want an answer to this one question. are you considering a run for the presidency of the united states? >> i am still considering a run, sean. [ cheering and applause ] >> i think the good folks near iowa, you can ask be in here and i think they would tell you, it is time this country is put back on the right track. [ inaudible ] >> they are ready for positive change from washington, d.c.. >> sean: obama said in february of '09 when he got into office, that he would be -- it would be a one-term proposition if he does not turn the economy around in three years. he's had three years. the economy has gotten worse. i

this is day one of the iowa state fair. we are featuring republican presidential candidates who are stopping off at the soap box posted by "the register." you are looking at live coverage from the state fair at des moines. the straw poll will be taking place at the university of iowa. nine names will be on the ballot, including gov. jon huntsman and former gov. mitt romney. mitt romney won the iowa straw poll in 2007, but came in second in the iowa caucuses in 2008. todd is joining us next from mississippi. >> i would like to make a statement. if you do not think that government is too big, they can check out what happened in california last week where 25 swat team military guard-wearing individuals reyes did an organic food store because they were ided an raw milk -- rate organic food store because they were selling raw milk. that is definitely government overstepping their boundaries. >> in 1995, bob dole won the straw poll. he also won the iowa caucuses the following year. in 1999, george w. bush won both the iowa straw p

it takes about eight hours to drive from one end of the iowa to the other. the iowa state fair is one of the largest in the country. about 1 million people attend each year. iowa has a population of about 3 million residents. they are the first in the nation to vote on the presidential caucus. the dates have not been finalized. it will be february or january, followed by new hampshire, south carolina, and then a series of other primaries, including likely florida. republicans, by the way, holding their convention next year at this time. back to your calls, jason in washington, go ahead. caller: i am from iowa, but i currently reside in florida. i just wanted to call and express some concerns i have about michele bachmann. there seems to be a lot of political rhetoric, but there does not seem to be much substance behind it. i think a tuned in a little late to your channel this afternoon, but if i heard her correctly, i think she said she could have all of the masses and political problems we are experiencing resolved within three months. i think that is a fantastic plan, but mos

the iowa state fair. what is she up to? uire just that. >> reporter: one of the main reasons for the iowa state fair is the show casing of livestock. since the state of iowa became important for political reasons, a different kind of livestock is now paraded around here. presidential candidates. all the photographphs. former governor pawlenty is flipping pork. and into this cattle call came a candidate who is not a candidate, at least not yet. former alaska governor, sarah palin. her every move so scrutinize for science as to whether she would run. the media fuels the suggestion hat she's stealing the spotlight from the official candidates. >> he's running to be the mayor of [ bleep ] blockington. why are you here in iowa before the straw poll? >> very thankful we were invited this year. we've been invited the last couple of years. finally, we were able to incorporate the stop into our one nation tour. >> reporter: do you think it is possible you could come back as a candidate? >> not sure yet. >> reporter: let's get the iow

also today the iowa state fair will be kicking offer. , giving stump speeches trying to track support. next week, president obama, president obama not the leave iowa out, he has a bus tour. he's going to make a stop here in iowa. carol? >> so i was just wondering. is mitt romney going to participate in the debate? >> mitt romney will participate in the debate. i was tracking him last night. this has only been his second time coming to iowa. this plan political season. he hasn't been competing here that mump. he's been focusing much of his attention in new hampshire u but he will be there. carol. >> i ask that question because there are many plilt cat analysts saying mitt romney has been sort of missing in action. >> yeah. he has been missing in action again in iowa. he is opting out of participating the all-important ames straw poll that happens on saturday. sit's kind of a test of the candidates' organization and popularity. he says that he's going to focus on the caucuses that are. going up next year, has been putting a lot of energy an

one or another coming through the iowa state fair in advance of the straw poll.g day tomorrow. many of the candidates here campaigning very hard at the state fair. just a short while ago, we heard michele bachmann over at the soapbox talking to voters. newt gingrich, rick santorum. herman cain. mitt romney was heard yesterday. tomorrow is the straw poll. you can't underestimate how ininfluential this is three candidates all sort of knocking at the door for first place. you don't have to win but exceed expectations in order to get a boost out of iowa. shich shell bachmann -- >> juan: that's what i was going to ask you how does she exceed expectations because she is the favorite. >> she can win going away. blow out the competition by a large margin. she has lots and lots of buzz. she has been campaigning very, very hard. today not only did she come to the state fair, she also held two political events, two town halls. she is really pushing in the final days of this. all of the candidates have spent a lot of money on it in serious contention. balkman is considered t

one or another coming through the iowa state fair in advance of the straw poll.big day tomorrow. many of the candidates here campaigning very hard at the state fair. just a short while ago, we heard michele bachmann over at the soapbox talking to voters. newt gingrich, rick santorum. herman cain. mitt romney was heard yesterday. tomorrow is the straw poll. you can't underestimate how ininfluential this is three candidates all sort of knocking at the door for first place. you don't have to win but exceed expectations in order to get a boost out of iowa. shich shell bachmann -- >> juan: that's what i was going to ask you how does she exceed expectations because she is the favorite. >> she can win going away. blow out the competition by a large margin. she has lots and lots of buzz. she has been campaigning very, very hard. today not only did she come to the state fair, she also held two political events, two town halls. she is really pushing in the final days of this. all of the candidates have spent a lot of money on it in serious contention. balkman is considered

expectations might signal the end of the road for others, despite the attention focused on the iowa state fair and some of the biggest names are vying for the spotlight far away. chief political correspondent carl cameron live in ames, iowa. carl, the speeches are underway and what's the mood like there at ames? >> well, kelly, as we speak, rick santorum, the former pennsylvania senator wrapped up the first speech of the straw poll gala this afternoon with a very, very staunch, socially conservative address to this iowa crowd of republicans straw poll voters, insisting his record after 12 years in the u.s. senate as a fighter for right to life and the sanctity of life will continue if he is president and he's been frustrated he feels the national media has not been giving him the attention he deserves and got the crowd on its feet, saying they have an opportunity to make a statement today by supporting him. santorum has had a boost and some think he may have reached from deep in the weeds. and for him a mainly achievement and could potentially breathe new life into his candidacy. throughout th

there was a much tougher debate this afternoon at the did when registers soapboxes at the iowa state fair than tonight. he was so defensive on the issues of taxes. even here tonight, one of the ways he was defensive with on the issue of taxes. i have a republican pollsters tell me this and explain to me because i am going, why not take a 4 to 1 deal? i had a republican pollsters say, look, you don't understand. taxes is the only thing. no taxes pledge, the only thing that keeps various coalitions of the republican party together, whether it's the wrong call folks, tea party folks, whatever wing you want to put inside the republican tent. the only common denominator is taxes. if that somehow got compromised, it would create a divide inside the party. i have had republican mitch strategist tell me that would tear the party down. >> who had the best night, who did what he or she had to do up there most effectively? >> the cheap, cliche answer is rick perry, because he did not have to be up there or do this. everybody tonight had some odd moments. the ones that had to do well was tim. you got

at the iowa state fair, eric hanson, news channel 8, iowa's news leader. >> we'll take your word for up, steve forbes on the volatile stock market and what needs to be done to get the u.s. economy back on track. >>> plus the latest on the capture of the dougherty gang in colorado. >>> and in these tough economic times a break from reality, a look at why hollywood may be recession-proof. >>> that's the "cbs morning news" for this thursday. thanks for watching. i'm randall pinkston. make it a great day. -- captions by vitac -- www.vitac.com -- captions by vitac -- www.vitac.com

it is one of the traditions of the iowa state fair. this year marks the 150th anniversary of the infamous cow.utter next dispenser from pennsylvania. >> i come from the conservative heartland of pennsylvania. i thought rick santorum was falling flat because he was spinning his history. he says he won in 2005 by five, but lost in double digits six years later. he falls flat in this election because of ideology -- ideology is tired. their reality is the rich people have the money, we need it, why can't we just take it? >> the flights are being passed out in anticipation of congressman ron paul who is next. later the seven men, former house speaker newt gingrich, and congresswoman michele bachmann. republican line. >> i have to say, even though it was just barely touched upon, i do have to commend newt gingrich for bringing up the subject of the u.n., and how we should be fun them, seeing how our government seems to be shaping their policies and legislation is in agreement with the treaty is that we have signed onto with the u.n.. i think

the hype. could this be tim pawpawlenty's last stand. in iowa, they're proud of their fried food. the fried goodness at the state fairthe front page of the local paper on wednesday, we're going to bring you the fried food of the day. today, deep fried mac & cheese. seriously. direct from the iowa state fair, this picture comes courtesy of our campaign reporter based out of here, alex mo. here it is, folks. lemon and orange slice with it. why you would want fruit after you had this delicious fried cheese and pasta, i don't know. but it looks unbelievable. i can't wait to try it. i'm going to the state fair today. forget the oreos and snickers. fried mac & cheese, i love it. ♪ [ country ] [ man ] ♪ gone, like my last paycheck ♪ gone, gone away ♪ gone, like my landlord's smile ♪ ♪ gone, gone away ♪ my baby's gone away with dedicated claims specialists... and around-the-clock service, travelers can help make things better quicker. will your auto and home insurer... be there when you need them most? for an agent or quote, call 800-my-coverage... or visit travelers.com. there's another way litter box dust:e purina tidy cat

sense of what it is like for this festival atmosphere as the iowa state fair continues 40 miles away greater the morning. . -- des moines area. the numbers are on your screen. we will get more of your phone calls. first up, from california. go ahead, please. while we watch the scene outside, we will get the calls lined up and we will be with you in another minute or two. >> live coverage on c-span. the first call is from california. go ahead, please. caller: two comments. it looks like the new republican talking points on jobs has to do with offshore drilling and oil and natural gas exploration and very little about infrastructure improvement. the second quick comment is ron paul is for a limited or no government as it has introduced the abortion question as government intrusion of the bed blum -- bedroom. host: republican line. what did you see and hear today, caroline? if you are there, please go ahead. next is the vienna in dayton, ohio. -- vivian in ohio. >> we are back live at the iowa straw poll on the campus of iowa state university. 202-624-1115 for democrats -- for republica

only on the new hp touchpad with webos. >>> sarah palin heads to the iowa state fair amid media attentionit disorder. but first, stephen colbert's newest act for his candidate of choice. that's in "the rewrite." run more smoothly by helping remove deposits and cleaning up intake valves. so when you fill up at an exxon or mobil station, you can rest assured we help your engine run more smoothly while leaving behind cleaner emissions. it's how we make gasoline work harder for you. exxon and mobil. when you switch your car insurance to esurance. i could save 'em 522 smackers. you talkin' dough? bread. benjamins? scratch. greenbacks. moolah. cheddar... simoleons! don't try to out-save me. [ female announcer ] any way you say it, $522 is the average amount saved by people who switched to esurance. 522 bucks! [ female announcer ] to find out how much you'll save, call 1-800-esurance or visit esurance.com right now. that's 1-800-esurance or go to esurance.com. >>> time for tonight's "rewrite." when i go around the country giving inspirational speeches to boy scout troops, girl scout troops, and

. >> the hot new dish at the iowa state fair is deep fried butter on a stick. >> deep fried butter. >> fried put certificate the new big thing. >> that not a corn dog, it looks like a corn dog t say fried butter log. you heard me, a fried butter log. that will cost you four bucks at the iowa state fair. >> jon: four bucks! of course if that's too rich for your clearly struggling blood, for $2 there is a gentlemen tow fair who will fill a shotgun with cheese wiz and shoot it up your ass. we have full team coverage of the ames straw poll starting with john olver wa, is going on. >> i'm at michele bachmann's tent and it is awesome! (laughter) >> i fed a sugar cube to a pony, jon, a pony. and not just any pony, one of those little midget ones with the stubbee little legs. >> jon: petting zoo aside, how is bachmann looking going into the weekend in iowa. >> who [bleep] cares, jon, i'm petting i-- . >> jon: wyatt cenac is standing by where the santorum campaign. wyatt, i see-- i see-- i see you got-- (laughter) >> jon: i see you need a napkin and also you got some of santorum's homemade pea

>> all right, andrea mitchell, at the iowa state fair. thanks. and our chief political editor and chief white house correspondent chuck todd is in des moines, iowa tonight. chuck, where does the gop stand now going into this crucial but again very early weekend? >> reporter: well, look, if it wasn't clear before last night, it is crystal clear today, thanks to the entrance of rick perry, mitt romney's front-runner status, the two minnesota republicans, michele bachmann and tim pawlenty believe that tomorrow's straw poll is the last chance for one of them to stay relevant in this presidential race. the mad dash to the republican straw poll in ames tomorrow brought many of the contenders to the iowa state fair today. >> it's hard to get things done to move this country in the right direction, i have done it. >> here's something they don't know about herrmann cane, i have been going against the odds all my life. >> we have to endorse a very basic principle and that's called freedom. >> reporter: but today's buzz wasn't about anything said on the stat

two-month pit stop sarah palin is bringing her put tour of american's historic places to the historic iowa state fair where thomas edison invented the funnel cake. (laughter) this is the same-- this is the same-- stop it. this is the same kind of coincidence that took her bus tour rick perry with an a fr america, with an a for iowa. -- (laughter) >> stephen: that's right. (cheers and applause) i'll join you. i'll join you. folks, i want everyone in the iowa nation to go to the ames straw poll, this saturday, going to be a beautiful day. there's food. there's booze and write in rick perry with an a. why a? because there's no "e" in team. and this evening-- (laughter) and this evening at 1700 hours we struck again with our second ad in the greater des moines metropolitan area. jimmy? >> iowa, a land of good people who can make up their own minds. but outside groups like jobs for iowa superpac are trying to panned err to iowans with pro perry ads feet oouring -- corn october fee that will-- just so you will vote for rick perry at the ames straw poll. but americans for a better tomorrow tomorrow believe

greetings from the iowa state fair. last night, the eight major republican presidential candidates intensely debated. tomorrow morning the iowa straw poll, after which some of those candidacies could end. into the iowa state fair today tore a tasmanian devil, as yet noncandidate sarah palin grabbing the attention of iowans and yes, the media. sucked up in the palin vortex as joked about last night on "the daily show" with jon stewart. >> we don't know if she's running. >> reporter: why this iowa jus before the straw poll? >> we have tried to do it the last cup ouple of years. finally, we incorporated the stop into our one nation tour. >> reporter: i don't know why you haven't thrown your hat into the ring? >> i still think it's early. too early. >> reporter: that's not the view of those campaigning hard here for months. not national front-runner mitt romney, who is not really competing here. and who last night focused on president obama. >> i'm not going to eat barack obama's dog food. >> reporter: for some others, , the

>> over the 10 days of the iowa state fair, an estimated 1 million visitors. iowa is a state of 3 million in total and the state historical has held the first in the nation presidential caucus. the first taking place to 1970's, in the 1972 campaign, with the george mcgovern using it as a springboard to his nomination, and in 1976 none of the above came in first, with jimmy carter coming in second and iowa propelling him to the nomination. this year, of course, republicans converging on iowa for a debate last night at the state fair and a straw poll tomorrow. christine is joining us from michigan. go ahead. republican line. >> i called in as a republican but with most of my friends, we find ourselves becoming more and more disgusted with the republican party. we are moderates and we truly do not understand why there are no people either from the very liberal democrats or from the very conservative republicans who recognized that most of the people out there are moderate, middle-of-the-road. there is nothing out there that is answering any of our questions. we ar

iowa voters here. we did well two nights ago at the debate. i was at the iowa fair yesterday. state fair yesterday. aying they liked what they heard. it's the first time they heard from me. i think we have a little bit of the mow here. hopefully we can crack the top five. there's a lot of folks ahead of us at the polls. if we can crack the top five, maybe fourth, that would be a great finish for us. >> that's what your expectations are set to. top four or five would be good. i would be happier with one, but we're feeling good. >> he's the first speaker on the agenda in iowa at 1:40 p.m. just about two hours from now. he'll be joined by ron paul and two minnesotans. former governor tim pawlenty and michele bachmann. th >>> meanwhile, mitt romney currently leading in the national polls among the gop presidential candidates. he's not in iowa today. instead he's focusing on new hampshire. last night he spoke to voters trying to clarify remarks he made at the iowa state fair when he said corporations are people. >> it's really astonishing to me that the obama folks would try to argue that businesses aren

two-month pit stop sarah palin is bringing her put tour of american's historic places to the historic iowa state fair where thomas edison invented the funnel cake. (laughter) this is the same-- this is the same-- stop it. this is the same kind of coincidence that took her bus tour to new hampshire the day mitt romney declared his candidacy. apparently sarah palin's version of the bat signal is anyone else's spotlight. (laughter) so folks, don't be surprised if during tonight's debate you see this-- (laughter) (applause) of course as a conservative i love sarah palin but frankly she is stealing focus away from the real story. >> the first thing the colbert superpac has done is create an ad for rick perry. >> americans for a better tomorrow tomorrow has released its first ad. >> a one minute campaign ad that is now airing across iowa. >> he is endorsing rick perry. >> supporting rick perry for president. >> stephen: that's right. colbert superpac, not affiliated with this show, has made their first ad and has changed the game in iowa, folks. i've been saying for weeks rick perry is the guy. the problem

iowa. there was another candidate who didn't make the ballot, but played a huge role. the iowa state fair. there was something for everyone. pork chops on a stick and including fried butter, oreo and snickers. >> whoa. this may not make it. snickers on a stick. are you satisfied? >> oh, no, chuck. oh, no. >>> meantime ron paul's prosperity playground drew almost as many visitors and voters for than michele bachmann's. the candidate tooled around in one of the many golf carts. >> there weren't any left? >> are you serious? >> i'm dead serious. >> i've got to double the salaries of the people working for me. >> that's all right. i'll be fit and in shape. >> bachmann may have cornered the market on golf carts, but candidate cane was first with pizza lovers. his campaign handing out tons of god father's pizza. ♪ >> i think he sounds good. isn't it crazy that you see all these hidden talents that the candidates have. there's mike huckabee playing backup for him. all right. let's go to break on a little music. have i got a surprise for you! [ barks ] yeah, it's new beneful healthy fiesta. gotta

the hawkeye state. a new feature in the food section of the iowa state fair got a lot of attention. >> if you can put it on a stick and fry it, you can probably get it here. this year's big hit, deep fried butter on a stick. ♪ ♪ >> that's right, four ounces of butter dipped in honey and cinnamon, then deep fried and drizzled with a sugary glaze. surprisingly, even with all this fried grub iowa is only the 20th most obese state in the nation. >> laura: see how bad could it be? would michelle obama approve of any of this? indulging in a tasty treat every now and again patriotic. a little moderation is never pinheaded. check out billoreilly.com. there's a big summer sale. if you sign up for a premium membership you get the patriot shirt, free. follow me on facebook and twitter. don't forget, pick up a copy of my "new york times" best seller "of thee i zing." laura grange gram.com. i'm in -- lauraingraham.com. i'm in for bill o'reilly. remember the spin stops here because we are always looking because we are always looking out for you. closed captioned by closed captioning services, inc. >> top of the morni

governor sarah palin is not eve in the race or -- even in the race but she's taking her bus to the iowa state fair. rick perry will be in iowa starting sunday. reporting live from washington, d.c., alison burns, ktvu channel 2 news. >>> a uc berkeley graduate claims standard & poor's made a mistake when downgrading the nation's credit rating. he said s&p based it on projections of the u.s. debt over the next 10 years but he claims those projections were wrong. s&p has reportedly acknowledged the error in a private conversation with the u.s. treasury but as no plans to -- has no plans to change the downgrade. >>> the heads of jpmorgan chase and citigroup -- investors are worried about the exposure. analysts say the banks have undergone changes and are safer. >>> california court employees are bracing for the possibility of more layoffs and reductions in the number of lours they work, but judges in the state do not have the same worries. the state constitution prohibits reducing judges salaries, a provision designed to protect judges who might make an unpopular ruling from backlash. >>> a battle is

the headline is fried food and retail politics at the iowa state fair. this is sort of what it look like. that is not the actual photo. we had our graphics department made this because toby harnden who took the photo as well as wrote the article wanted us to pay him $5,000 to sew you the photo, which is about $4,999 more than we were willing to pay for it. this is a terrible, terrible photo of michele bachmann with her eyes rolled back in her head, her mouth open wide and about to bite into a foot-long corn dog at the iowa state fair you get the picture. you can agree with her politics or not, dislike her or not, but the photo is absolutely ridiculous and absolutely unfair. i don't want to get all 30 of the apocalypse on you, but i have to think it was chosen for its suggestive nature. >> the outdoor baggage handling area is in the shape of a fallice. let's take a look. >> it's difficult to talk about, but the michele bachmann photo is wrong. it's a really really unflattering photo graph. it makes the newsweek cover look like it was taken at the glamour s

chief political correspondent carl cameron is live at the iowa state fair in des moines. eporter: well, you know, the iowa state fair has a 100 year tradition, every day 100,000 people come through here which means it's sort of ground zero for the presidential candidates because it's a huge opportunity to meet iowans, the first in the nation caucus, and it comes right between last night's influential and very important debate and the straw poll tomorrow. many of the candidates are going to be coming through to shake hands, have pork chop on a stick, red bull smoothies are big with some reporters. it's an opportunity to not only take part in a real part of historic americana at the fair, but also to organize for the straw poll in the final days. tomorrow's poll is very, very consequential. his to haveically, candidates from the back of the pack because they organize, they can get a huge boost, and if they don't organize and get prepared for it and don't do well, it can be, potentially, lethal to their candidacies. there's a long list of presidential roadkill that didn't tak

gwen: the republican presidential campaign got a jumpstart here in iowa, but the state fair roller coaster had nothing on the stock market. the story from here and there, tonight on "washington week." it must be getting serious. >> i have a very consistent record of fighting very hard against barack obama and his unconstitutional measures in congress. i'm very proud of that record. >> she said she's got a titanium spine. it's not her spine we're worried about. it's her record of results. gwen: the candidates are sharpening their attacks. >> i predict in this place on this day that in november of 2012, president obama will not carry the state of iowa. gwen: leading up to the iowa straw poll, the jockeying has begun to see who will struggle and who will survive. >> if you want to know what i'm going do, i'm going to do exactly what i did as governor. it's called leadership. gwen: the common target, president obama, who spent the week pushing back against a tidal wave of bad economic news, a credit rating downgrade -- >> the political brinkmanship we saw over raising the debt ceiling was some

turkey. >>> now, before the debate, republican candidate mitt romney did some campaigning at the iowa state fairar old average joe? here's your punch line. >> romney was at the state fair in his everyman dunn gagarees. romney proved he didn't just dress like the average joe, he understands the average joe. >> corporations are people, my friend. >> yes. corporations are people, my friend. they're like members of your family. your brother, fax machine. your uncle ben. your aunt anne. your mama celeste. your go daddy. folks, i have been fighting this good fight for years. corporations are legally people in the united states. corporations are people. corporations are people. corporations are people, too. would you let your daughter date a corporation, sir? >> no, i would not. >> wow. in this day and age, that kind of bigotry, it is time to remake "guess who's coming to dinner," this time with an oil rig. >> all right. first, today's businessman special is a ridiculously low mortgage rates. find out how much more money you'll save today, compared to getting a mortgage a week ago. we're talking about

it's part of three days in iowa, today here at the iowa state fair, we are going to hear most of these candidates out on the soap box literally talking to whatever crowd shows up and then you've got the iowa, the ames straw poll in which most of these candidates will give major speeches to the party faithful and then there will be a straw poll and that begins to maybe shape the race. so there are a lot of things coming and the answers are at least will be clearer a little bit, i think, depending on those ames straw poll results on sunday morning than they are right now. now, as far as michele bachmann and what do you want to ask, look. tim pawlenty has gone after her in her vulnerability and in her vul nevenlt vulnerability. her experience is limited. we elected inexperienced president and look what happened. we shouldn't do that any more. we need someone who understands business and the real world. that is a vulnerability for michele bachmann who has been framed by some of her opponents as not having the experience. she does have the passionate supporters and that is what has kept her