UPDATE: Perry Seeks Voters at Principal Stop; Romney's Final Iowa Rally Focuses on Economy

In a final push to the caucuses, GOP presidential candidates Rick Perry and Mitt Romney visited residents and employees in Des Moines Tuesday.

While Romney drew a rather quiet crowd at The Temple for the Perfoming Arts in the morning, Perry made afternoon stops at Principal Financial Group and Nationwide Insurance.

Rick Perry

Rick Perry gained an entourage as he made last-minute campaign stops in Des Moines Tuesday afternoon.

The Texas governor spoke to employees at two of Des Moines' biggest employers, Principal Financial Group and Nationwide Inusurance.

Perry, who has continually since joining the race in August, was introduced by Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal at Principal Financial Group.

Also in attendance for camp Perry were Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback, Texas Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst, and Texas Comptroller Susan Combs,  among others.

The entourage may not have been enough to sway voters Perry's way, though.

"He's OK, but I can see why he'd be polling third or fourth," said Quentin Greenough of Grimes. "I still have a few hours to decide. It'll be interesting to see what others in my area decide."

During the stump Perry focused on patriotism, recognizing Capt. Dan Maron, who was injured during a tour of duty overseas.

Principal represents the best of what America is about by hiring veterans, Perry said.

The economy and national defense are tied together, Perry said.

"You can't have a foreign policy, we can't have the respect of the rest of the world from a military standpoint unless you have the ability to keep our country ahead," he said. "If we don't first have that economy that puts people to work, that give entrepreneurs the confidence to risk capital and have returns on investment."

Perry lamented how the 10th Amendment must be restored in areas such as education and environment.

"I happen to think the people of Iowa … you all should have substantially more involvement on how to educate students than those in Washington, D.C.," he said.

Trent Bildstein of Des Moines attended Principal-sponsored campaign speeches by Ron Paul and Rick Santorum in the past.

"I also saw Romney a few times four years ago," he said of who he plans to support in tonight's caucus. "His proposals might not be too bold, but I think he could win and that's important to me."

Bildstein said he wasn't convinced by Perry.

"He doesn't have much conviction," he said.

Tuesday has been busy for Perry, he began the morning by rallying his volunteers to remain confident.

Perry recently concluded a two-week, on New Year's Eve.

Mitt Romney

A rather subdued crowd greeted GOP presidential candidate, and Mitt Romney in his only scheduled caucus-day event Tuesday morning.

The rally, at the Temple for Performing Arts in Downtown Des Moines, started nearly 30 minutes late, and came just after former U.S. Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich went on television and called Romney a "liar."

Media, both national and international, filled the back and balcony of the room.

The wait for Romney was punctuated by patriotic country music on the sound system. When the candidate finally appeared, the crowd held signs high and cheered. Several in the audience pulled out cell phones and video cameras for their last chance to see Romney.

The former Massachusetts governor spoke of the economy and his plans for improvement, as he worked to capture last-minute undecided votes from the approximately 150 people in the audience.

"He seems the most solid on the issues," said Marcia Peeler of Indianola. "I don't like the candidates that make the campaign about things like abortion or homosexual relationships, to me that's not a government thing."

Peeler, who works in the building, walked across the hall to see Romney's campaign stump.

"He has a wide variety of experience, from both the government and business  experiences," she said.

Patch will have live Caucus results as they come in tonight. Check back at 7 p.m. for stories and photos from Iowa Caucus precincts, then results and candidate reaction as the night goes on.

Romney told the crowd that he would use that to rebuild America.

He will strive to make America the most attractive for job growth, he said.
Romney said he's not afraid to cut programs, even if he and Americans like the programs.

The plan is to look at the money spend on programs and determine if it is important enough to America to borrow money from places like China.

"I'll ask the American people to sacrifice. … The National Endowment (for the Arts) … PBS, they get money from the government, they have to learn to stand on their own."

Romney once again refrained from bashing fellow candidates, instead reserving his punches for President Obama.

"The next four years we'll hit a wall like Italy and Greece with this president," he said. "I think the president believes we should become a European welfare state."

It was the president's stance on the economy, or lack of improvement, that swayed Jay Gjerstad's independent vote.

"I'm going to vote for Romney tonight," Gjerstad, of Indianola said. "I voted for Obama last election, he didn't bring change. We need a president that can work better with Congress."

Romney, who was , had no other campaign events scheduled for Tuesday.

After spending little time in Iowa this go-around, Romney made a in the last weeks with a bus tour, even being j.

He will hold a caucus night party at the Hotel Fort Des Moines at 8:45 p.m.