What’s Ahead Nov. 14: Bachmann increases staff, time in Iowa [The Gazette, Cedar Rapids, Iowa]

Nov. 14--A busy week ahead on the Iowa caucus campaign trail.

Starting today, five of the candidates will be in-state stumping for votes. In addition to the usual appetite for Pizza Ranch, Newt Gingrich and Michele Bachmann</person> seem to be working up a thirst. Bachmann will make a stop at McCarthy & Bailey's Irish Pub in Sioux City while Gingrich screens his movie, "A City Upon a Hill," at a Carroll winery.

Rick Perry also is in Iowa today to headline the Scott County GOP Ronald Reagan Dinner at 6:30 p.m. at 2021 State St., Bettendorf.

Rumor has it the Texas governor had three stops planned, but -- oh, never mind.

Herman Cain also will be making campaign stops in Iowa this week. It will be his second visit since the mid-August Iowa GOP Straw Poll. The former Godfather's CEO has made 24 visits to Iowa. All but one occurred prior to the mid-August Iowa GOP Straw Poll where he finished fifth. He was back Oct. 22 when he rode the Hawkeye Express from Coralville to Kinnick Stadium to attend see the University of Iowa Hawkeyes host Indiana and then head to Ames to see the Iowa State University Cyclones take on Texas A&M before speaking at the Iowa Faith & Freedom Coalition Presidential Candidate Forum in Des Moines.

The big event for the candidates this week will be Saturday afternoon's Thanksgiving Family Forum hosted by The Family Leader at First Federated Church, 4801 Franklin Ave., Des Moines. That will attract Bachmann, Gingrich and Perry as well as Herman Cain, Ron Paul, and Rick Santorum.

Despite flagging poll numbers, the Minnesota congresswoman is adding to her Iowa campaign staff as part of her effort to "win the all important first-in-the-nation caucuses on Jan. 3" and spending more time in Iowa. She will be doing a full-on caucus campaign tour of the state, working her way from northwest Iowa today across Iowa to Independence and Cedar Rapids Friday.

Bachmann will be discuss foreign policy -- which she didn't get much of a chance to talk about in the CBS-National Journal debate of foreign policy -- and cutting federal spending and creating jobs.

Bachmann announced over the weekend the addition to her Iowa staff of two veterans of the 2008 McCain presidential campaign. Megan McGreal Ferraro will oversee the planning, scheduling and execution of all campaign events and event staff. Craig Handzlik will oversee the logistics and execution of all Iowa events. Drake student and Iowa native Alex Latcham will work as College Outreach leader.

On the calendar:

Nov. 14

Newt Gingrich, 11 a.m., meet with employees of GuideOne Insurance, 1111 Ashworth Road. Des Moines; 4 p.m., 6 p.m., Greene County Republicans, Community Center, 204 W. Harrison, Jefferson; 6 p.m., screening of "A City Upon a Hill," Santa Maria Winery, 218 West 6th St., Carroll

Rick Perry, 6:30 p.m., Scott County GOP Ronald Reagan Dinner, 2021 State St., Bettendorf

Michele Bachmann, noon, McCarthy & Bailey's Irish Pub, Sioux City; 2 p.m., Family Table Restaurant, Le Mars; 5:30 p.m., Pizza Ranch, Sheldon

Nov. 15

Newt Gingrich, noon, Sukup Manufacturing, Sheffield; 2:30 p.m.Osage Middle School, 820 Sawyer Dr., Osage; 4 p.m., North Iowa Area Community College

Nov. 16

Michele Bachmann9 a.m.Lakeshore Family Restaurant, Storm Lake; 12:30 p.m., 2nd Street Emporium, Webster City; 6 p.m., Sen. Brad Zaun house party, West Des Moines

Newt Gingrich, 7:30 a.m., fundraiser for Iowa Senate candidate Jeff Mullen, Machine Shed Restaurant, 11151 Hickman Rd., Urbandale

Nov. 17

Michele Bachmann Drake University, Des Moines; 2 p.m., Pioneer Hybrid, Johnston; 2 p.m., Pioneer Hi-Bred, Johnston

Nov. 18

Michele Bachmann 9 a.m., Falcon Civic Center, Independence; 1 p.m., The Gazette Editorial Board (Not open to the public, but livestreamed at http://thegazette.com.)

Ron Paul, 1 p.m., Pizza ranch, Vinton; 4 p.m., Lawrence Community center, Anamosa; 7 p.m., Hotel at Kirkwood, 7725 Kirkwood Blvd., Cedar Rapids

Nov. 19

Ron Paul, 9 a.m., GOP pancake breakfast, Indianola Christian Church, Indianola

Herman Cain, Newt Gingrich, Rick Perry, Michele Bachmann, Ron Paul, and Rick Santorum, 4 p.m., The Family Leader Thanksgiving Family Forum, First Federated Church, 4801 Franklin Ave., Des Moines

Michele Bachmann, Gov. Terry Branstad's Birthday Bash, 3200 Adventureland Dr., Altoona

Dec. 10

ABC News and the Iowa Republican Party, live presidential debate

Dec. 19

The Des Moines Register/PBS Newshour Republican presidential debate, Des Moines

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