most of them are competing for straw poll votes at this point. mitt romney is not in the straw poll. >> remember the caged animal is the -- the cornered animal smoeft dais the most dangerous. >> they need to go at bachmann. romney will get his fair share. i think they need to go at bachmann and knock her down a peg. >> remember who had the most influence in debates was a candidate that was an asterisk in the democratic side, chris dodd. >> absolutely. >> chris cillizza, jackie kucinich, two of the 700 reporters that have gotten credentials for the ames straw poll. fantastic. this sunday on "meet the press," meet the candidates, congresswoman michele bachmann, david gregory's exclusive guest, hours after the straw poll results are announced. a special edition of "meet the press" live from ames, iowa. check your local listings. don't miss it. coming up, carnival rides, fried food on sticks and the butter cow. how the presidential candidates are playing the retail politics game here in iowa.