Perry looks for comeback in Iowa

"He's a competitor. The guy's not used to losing. To be frank, he does better when he's in third or fourth place than when he's ahead," said Katon Dawson, who is running Perry's South Carolina campaign operation. Perry is scheduled to make several campaign stops in the state Thursday, including an event with veterans and a private meeting with 450 pastors.

Dawson, a former South Carolina Republican Party chairman, said the heavy ad blitz and sharper focus on Christian conservatives shouldn't be construed as a sign of panic by the Perry team.

"What you're seeing is the real Rick Perry," Dawson said. "The goal is to show voters they have a distinct choice."

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Elliott reported from Washington. Associated Press Writer Thomas Beaumont in Iowa contributed to this report.

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