republican hopefuls are focused on making good impression in the upcoming straw poll. but others are looking past iowa. carl cameron examines the strategy for 2012. reporter: former minnesota governor tim pawlenty kicked off three week of iowa barn storming in advance of the fox debate an straw poll with an r.v. tour and warning that iowanss should not waste their support on charismatic candidates who can t actually win. all but calling rival michele bachmann unelectable. it s of no value or little value if you pick someone who the rest of the party and the rest of the process and the rest of the country says that person can t really be president. reporter: iowa democrats accused pawlenty of driving minnesota s economy in ditch with press quotes on his record on governor. campaigning in iwhat where she leads first of the nation caucus polls, minnesota congresswoman bachmann largely ignores pawlenty. today she played up a close house partnership with popular iowa congressman steve
leads first of the nation caucus polls, minnesota congresswoman bachmann largely ignores pawlenty. today she played up a close house partnership with popular iowa congressman steve kung to defund and repeal obamacare. it will be socialized medicine in the united states. it s a crown jewel of socialism. reporter: bachmann went to south carolina where she signed the cut, cap and balance pledge. two weeks said she said it doesn t go far enough but it s become top priority of powerful senator jim demint and fiscal hawks in congress in texas, governor rick perry s record is getting closely scrutinized, too. his state budget shows a surplus but it has grown faster than inflation and population growth. and spending has grown faster than under the predecessor bush. perry s day of prayer and fasting in houston is august 6. right when he initially planned announce the decision to run or not. he has said he could take more time but he told the des moines register i am getting more comfortab