How to survive the Iowa State Fair | CNN Politics

iowa state fair being moody origwx ar_00005625.jpg

How to not embarrass yourself at the Iowa state fair

02:19 - Source: CNN

Race to 2016 16 videos

How to not embarrass yourself at the Iowa state fair

02:19

Now playing

- Source: CNN

electioneering explainer danny cevallos orig_00001425.jpg

States can actually limit free speech on Election Day

01:13

Now playing

- Source: CNN

2016 campaigns in memoriam origwx bw_00000127.jpg

2016 presidential campaigns in memoriam

03:00

Now playing

- Source: CNN

They made it to the White House despite scandals

02:10

Now playing

- Source: CNN

history of the october surprise foreman ac pkg_00005811.jpg

The history of the October surprise

02:14

Now playing

- Source: CNN

36 years of election nights on CNN

04:02

Now playing

- Source: CNN

Watch 9 elections get called on CNN in under one minute

01:15

Now playing

- Source: CNN

hillary clinton rally daytona beach fbi investigation sot_00002801.jpg

Clinton calls FBI director's actions unprecedented

00:57

Now playing

- Source: CNN

trump voter id podesta fact check origwx bw_00004624.jpg

Fact check: Trump on undocumented immigrants and voting

02:16

Now playing

- Source: CNN

hillary clinton rally time lapse origwx bw_00004417.jpg

Hillary Clinton's historic night in time-lapse

01:21

Now playing

- Source: CNN

NEW YORK, NY - JULY 23: Anthony Weiner, a leading candidate for New York City mayor, stands with his wife Huma Abedin during a press conference on July 23, 2013 in New York City. Weiner addressed news of new allegations that he engaged in lewd online conversations with a woman after he resigned from Congress for similar previous incidents. (Photo by John Moore/Getty Images)

Clinton's history with Anthony Weiner

02:01

Now playing

- Source: CNN

Many North Carolina voters remain undecided in upcoming presidential election_00001405.jpg

Some North Carolina voters hesitant to pick a candidate

02:15

Now playing

- Source: CNN

joe biden hillary clinton election intv sot smerconish _00000000.jpg

Biden: I thought I could beat Hillary Clinton

00:46

Now playing

- Source: CNN

cnnee pkg rodriguez clinton global iniciative hillary emails_00002301.jpg

Hillary Clinton's explanations of her email saga

02:47

Now playing

- Source: CNN

Gary Johnson snaps at reporter

01:17

Now playing

- Source: CNN

Democratic Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton and US Vice President Joe Biden acknowledge the crowd at Riverfront Sports athletic facility on August 15, 2016 in Scranton, Pennsylvania.

Biden on Clinton's Secretary of State list?

01:26

Now playing

- Source: CNN

CNN —

The Iowa State Fair is a must-see stop on the campaign trail for presidential candidates looking for an edge in the state’s first-in-the-nation caucuses.

While this Hawkeye State tradition presents a major opportunity for White House contenders to make their case to voters hungry for personal interaction, past candidates have stumbled while navigating the grounds.

As a helpful guide to candidates who don’t want their campaigns to end at the fair, CNN Politics recruited veteran Iowa operatives to show us just how to make it through unscathed.

1. Dress casual. Fred Thompson arrived at the fair in fancy leather shoes.

Fred Thompson's shoes at the Iowa State Fair in 2007. (Getty)

Getty Images

2. There are lots of fried foods on sticks. Eat them! But stay away from the corn dogs.

Then-Republican presidential candidate Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN) shows off her foot-long corn dog as photographers take her picture at the Iowa State Fair August 12, 2011 in Des Moines, Iowa.

Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

3. When you visit the beer tent, don’t shut down the whole place like Obama did in 2012.

AFP/Getty Images

For more tips, watch the video above.