Michele Bachmann Shakes Hands at Valley Junction Establishments

The Michele Bachmann campaign hopes a personal touch will attract more voters in Tuesday's Iowa Caucus.

Hordes of national and international media, and several curious residents, showed up when the Iowa native and Minnesota Congresswoman came calling in West Des Moines Monday afternoon.

Bachmann rode into town on her campaign bus, finishing up her last push effort to regain support after tumbling in the polls since her in August.

The brief stops in included meet and greets at , , and Floral Touch.

The local stores were too small to fit the swarms of media that filled the street. At one point cameras nearly blocked two city buses from passing through.

Gawkers who came to see Bachmann, who is currently , weren't able to get close to the candidate as cameras crowded the entrance to Paula's.

Carolyn Patterson, 16 and Jessica Horick, 15, both of Minneapolis, were inside Paula's just in time to see Bachmann.

"There were just a lot of media here, a lot of people," Horick said. "She just walked through and said hi to people, she was very personable."

The teens are on a trip with their social studies class. Every four years the class makes the trip to Iowa for the caucuses.

"It was very hectic," Carolyn said. "People were trying to serve and the cameras were everywhere. She shook our hands and asked how we were."

Across the street at Diggity Dog, a small 10-foot by 15-foot store, only a few people were allowed in to see Bachmann.

Area residents jumped at the opportunity to see Bachmann, or any candidate, so close to the end of the Caucus campaign.

"I haven't seen her yet," said Denise Linn of Des Moines as she stood on the sidewalk behind the media. "There are so many cameras here."

Several undecided residents chose to venture to campaign stops Monday, although they were forced to watch from the sidelines.

"We just wanted to see all the candidates," said Judy Peterson of Waukee as she watched at a spot across the street from Paula's. "We haven't seen her yet. I admire her energy and enthusiasm. I can't say that I'd vote for her, but maybe a cabinet position would be good for her."

Judy and her husband, Ron, spent an earlier portion of the day in downtown Des Moines.

"We just came from lunch at Centro," she said. "There was no one there we recognized, but we heard that more than 500 people are coming in to see Romney later.

"It's just amazing, it's wonderful for Des Moines," Judy said. "For Iowa, for the exposure. Iowans are very informed and knowledgeable and take this very seriously."

Bachmann spent the several weeks traveling Iowa on a to visit all 99 counties in the state.