Bachmann has harsh words for Perry, Paul

CRESTON, Iowa -- Rep. Michele Bachmann Wednesday criticized Texas Gov. Rick Perry for a new campaign commercial that portrays Bachmann and other current and former members of Congress as Washington political insiders.

Perry's ad asks viewers why would they consider voting for anyone for president who's had anything to do with Congress.

"If Washington's the problem, why trust a congressman to fix it?" asks the announcer in the ad.

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Following a campaign stop in Creston, Bachmann told reporters it's Perry who is neck-deep in the political establishment.

"Just because he's held office outside of Washington, D.C. does not mean that he is not a political insider," said Bachmann. "It's what you do in your office that matters. There aren't very many politicians who spent more time paying off political donors than Gov. Rick Perry has."

Bachmann also accused Perry of failing to understand the difference between foreign aid and foreign security assistance.

As the Iowa caucuses draw new, Bachmann is directly criticizing almost all of her competitors. She's accusing Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich of changing positions on Libya and repeating criticism of Ron Paul over statements Paul has made about Iran and nuclear weapons.

"Ron Paul thinks that it would be fine if the Iranians obtained nuclear weapons," she said. "That's Ron Paul's thinking. I oppose Ron Paul's thinking. Ron Paul would be dangerous as the President of the United States"

Bachmann surrogates are criticizing former Sen. Sen. Rick Santorum for endorsing Romney four years ago while former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, who won the 2008 Iowa caucuses, was still in the race.