At each of the three northern New Hampshire events that she held on the first day of her planned four-day bus tour through the first-in-the-nation primary state, Bachmann appeared more at ease and eager to make herself accessible to voters than when she first burst onto the presidential stage.

The question is whether it’s already too late, especially in a state like this, where the pragmatic and socially moderate GOP electorate may not be an ideal match for Bachmann.

Despite the make-or-break scenario that Bachmann faces in Iowa and the dwindling resources she has available to meet the steep challenge there, senior New Hampshire adviser Jeff Chidhester said that New Hampshire would remain an important piece of the overall strategy.

“She’s going to come back more,” he said. “She loves New Hampshire, and so we’ll see a lot more activity here.”