PHOTOS: Bachmann Tour Stops at Bluebird Diner in Iowa City

In an event that was one part pit stop, three parts political photo op, Rep. Michele Bachmann kicked off her bus tour of Iowa Saturday morning in Iowa City.

About 60 interested onlookers crowded into the Bluebird Diner and waited a half hour for the Republican candidate for president to arrive.

Once there, Bachmann, surrounded by a pack of media as she circled the room, greeted as many in attendance as she could before moving her way through the loud and cramped room and sitting down at her table with her husband, Marcus, and daughter, Sophia.

There they made their order, and enjoyed coffee and some strawberry waffles, while speaking with Tom Connelly, a partner in the restaurant, his sister, Erin, and his two sons, Augustine and Cash.

Augustine, 7, did most of the talking, describing his strategy in the game Angry Birds.

Beyond this, little of substance was said by Bachmann during her quick visit, although she did reiterate her commitment to Iowa, saying that its status as first in the nation makes it important to her campaign.

"Iowa is very important to us," Bachmann said to a CNN reporter holding his microphone over her plate of waffles. "We want to do very well here."

Bachmann also said she is comfortable in Iowa due to her native roots, having lived in Waterloo until she was 12, and that the state should be taken seriously as the Bread Basket of America.

"It's great to be a Hawkeye," Bachmann said.

After getting their drinks, the trio toasted to the journey ahead.

"To Iowa," they said in chorus.

After finishing the meal, and a few more handshakes, Bachmann and entourage were gone, their campaign bus honking as it drove off.

If nothing else, the visit was a chance for local Republicans and Independents to gather together and catch a glimpse of Bachmann for the first time. Many said Johnson County's liberal leanings makes it hard to see as many candidates.

"Iowa City is a Democratic stronghold in Iowa, and I'm a Republican who is looking for a candidate who can challenge President Obama," said Glenn Patton, of Iowa City. "I wanted to see for myself if she is that type of candidate."

Larry Ellingson, an optometrist in Iowa City, said Bachmann is one of three candidates -- along with former Godfathers Pizza CEO Herman Cain and former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum -- that he has given money to, and he said he's still trying to decide who to pull for.

Ellingson did say, however, that Bachmann is a true conservative candidate that he would feel comfortable voting for, as she supports conservative values such as a smaller government.

"Spend less of our dollars in government so we can create business here," Ellingson said. "You give me my dollars back and I'll create more jobs than the the government does with my dollars."

Jeanna Holmes, a Republican who lives in Iowa City, conceded that the event was light on substance, but said she valued the opportunity to see Bachmann, one of her favorite candidates this cycle, in person.

"Today was just an opportunity to see her in person and watch her drink coffee," Holmes said, with a chuckle. "It's impossible to talk about anything in here."

Patti Williams said she considers herself an Independent even though she is registered Republican to participate in the caucus. She said even though Bachmann didn't say much, just seeing her in person had some value in confirming her as a legitimate candidate.

"Once you meet some people, you know they're not for real," Williams said. "She's very warm. She's got something special, I think."