Texas Gov. and presidential hopeful Rick Perry received both applause and heckling from audience members at a campaign stop at Ames’ Cafe Diem on Sunday. 

Just after noon on Sunday, the small cafe on Main Street quickly became the center of national media and local interest and was soon overflowing with Perry supporters and detractors. Standing with hardly an inch to breath, Ames residents and reporters alike waited anxiously for the governor to arrive.

“Curiosity brought us out here today,” said attendee Richard White. “What I like about Mr. Perry is that he wants to bring change from a states’ rights point of view … but I do think he needs to get more credibility.”

White, although interested in seeing Perry in attendance, had reserves about voting for Perry and his chances at winning the Iowa caucuses on Jan. 3.

“In my opinion, I think Mitt Romney will win the caucus,” White said. “He has good character and sound business principles.”

Although he had his doubts, Ken, another attendee who did not wish to give his last name, had a slightly more optimistic view for Gov. Perry.

“What I like about him is that he seems to be a fairly transparent person,” Ken said. “Sometimes his answers get him into trouble, but he gives an honest answer.”

In terms of his hopes at the Iowa caucuses, Ken also noted that the polls that show Newt Gingrich and Mitt Romney as the front-runners do not necessarily reflect what could actually happen when voting begins.

“Most people are holding their opinions to themselves until they get to the caucuses,” Ken said. “It’s a very open process right now, so I don’t think anyone is giving an honest answer [in the polls].”

Perry highlighted several problems with President Barack Obama’s policies, praised Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad and emphasized his wishes for a stronger state role in the political process.

“We’ve gotta get government out of the relationship between patient and doctor,” Perry said. “We need to repeal Obamacare … if Obamacare goes into place, the cost going over to the states is going to be monumental.”

After addressing the national deficit, energy regulations and his disgust with the current state of the federal government, Perry wrapped up his speech with his reaffirmation that he is an outsider to Washington and an outsider is the one thing that Washington needs at the current moment.

“Americans have lost their confidence in Washington, D.C.,” Perry said. “We’ve gotta send an outside to D.C. who will pull out the veto pen … And we’re gonna take D.C. back to what our Founding Fathers talked about: a government by and for the people.”

Perry received applause from his supporters in the crowd upon completion of his speech, but the excitement immediately turned to tension as opponents of Perry quickly made their voices heard. ISU Professor Warren Blumenfeld, who tried unsuccessfully during Perry’s speech to get a question answered, called out the governor as he was leaving the stage about Perry’s recent television ad in which he states his opposition to gays serving openly in the military.

“Why are you demonizing gay and lesbian people?” shouted Blumenfeld.

Perry did not give an answer to the question, but the interjection by Blumenfeld was met with a loud yell of support for the question as well as jeers from Perry supporters. Additionally, someone in the back of the crowd yelled, “Why can’t gays compete in the military?”

The questions targeting Perry were enough to start up a small shouting match between Perry supporters and opponents, but did not escalate beyond dialogue.