What Iowa Campaign Buses Say About Their Candidates
Republican presidential candidate, Texas Gov. Rick Perry walks to his bus after a campaign stop at the Glenn Miller Museum in Clarinda, Iowa, Tuesday, Dec. 27, 2011. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel) (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
What can you tell about candidates by the vehicles they ride?
It's crunch time in Iowa and four of the six Republicans competing there are using buses as rolling ads for their campaigns. The newly energized Rick Santorum travels in a Dodge Ram pickup, possibly out of fiscal prudence. Ron Paul, whose campaign is well financed, does not have a bus - maybe because he rarely does the usual thing, or perhaps to avoid the commotion his fervent supporters would create wherever the bus went.
(PICTURES: See Their Buses)
Michele Bachmann's bus simply says "Michele Bachmann for President." Mitt Romney and Rick Perry are conveying their core messages in pithy shorthand. "Conservative Businessman Leader" says Romney's bus. "Faith Jobs Freedom" says Perry's.
Gingrich's bus also has a message: "Rebuilding the America We Love." That is not, however, the most prominent feature of the bus ridden by the former House speaker. It's a huge painting of his face.
Insert joke or pop psychology analysis here.
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