November on the campaign trail with #2012Ufiltered

Our reporters have covered a lot of ground for debates, town hall meetings and other candidate events in the past few weeks. They used Instagram and the hashtag #2012Unfiltered to bring our readers the big moments and behind-the-scenes nuances.

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As his poll numbers rose throughout November, campaign events for Newt Gingrich drew increasingly huge crowds. He packed Tommy's Ham House in Greenville, S.C., on Nov. 30.

Amy E. Gardner / The Washington Post via Instagram

Reporter Amy E. Gardner, on Nov. 29: “Newt rocks the boom mic again at the Newberry, S.C. Opera House.”

Amy E. Gardner / The Washington Post via Instagram

Reporter Philip Rucker covered Newt and Callista Gingrich, who are conservative filmmakers, on a stop at Harvard. Here, they lecture on American exceptionalism before a Harvard movie screening.

Philip Rucker / The Washington Post via Instagram

Rucker: "The view from my hotel room on a crisp, perfect November morning in Boston."

Philip Rucker / The Washington Post via Instagram

Callista Gingrich is also a children's book author. Here, she signs books after a reading with Ellis the Elephant, the protagonist of her book, "Sweet Land of Liberty," in South Carolina.

Amy E. Gardner / The Washington Post via Instagram

Standing-room only in the hallway outside hotel ballroom in Naples, Fla., as Amy Gardner covers a Newt Gingrich event.

Amy E. Gardner / The Washington Post via Instagram

Gingrich let the spotlight go for a moment to this eight-year-old girl, who Gardner said “stole the show” at the stop in Naples.

Amy E. Gardner / The Washington Post via Instagram

Another 500 came out for Gingrich at Books-a-Million in Naples, Fla.

Amy E. Gardner / The Washington Post via Instagram

In Manchester, N.H., Mitt Romney dines with Granite State political elite: Manchester mayor Ted Gatsas (R) and Gov. John Lynch (R).

Philip Rucker / The Washington Post via Instagram

Philip Rucker tweeted: "Here's @MittRomney with New Hampshire's real political elite, Union Leader pub Joe McQuaid." Just nine days later, the Union Leader editorial board endorsed Newt Gingrich.

Philip Rucker / The Washington Post via Instagram

In New Hampshire, Mitt Romney assailed Obama on the $15 trillion debt, calling it "simply inexcusable."

Philip Rucker / The Washington Post via Instagram

At a Peterborough, N.H., town hall meeting on Nov. 19, Romney said he will make government smaller and smarter.

/ The Washington Post via Instagram

On Nov. 29, a trio of Cuban-American Republicans endorsed Romney at an event held at a papaya wholesaler's warehouse in Miami. Rucker wrote: "Yes, those are boxes of Conchita guava bites behind Romney sign."

Philip Rucker / The Washington Post via Instagram

At the Tampa port on Nov.30, Romney campaigns with former congressman and current Commissioner Adam Putnam and his son, Craig.

Philip Rucker / The Washington Post via Instagram

Rucker tweeted: "After Tampa event, @MittRomney dodges reporters questions, says he does avails 'every day.' #nottrue #2012unfiltered"

Philip Rucker / The Washington Post via Instagram

Reporter Amy E. Gardner and chief correspondent Dan Balz cover the Nov. 22 debate from the Washington Post newsroom.

Amy E. Gardner / The Washington Post via Instagram

A report that Herman Cain had been accused of sexual harassment while chief executive of the National Restaurant Association emerged the night before he was scheduled to speak at the National Press Club. Chief Correspondent Dan Balz covered the event and snapped this photo as well as video of Cain singing a hymn to wrap up the luncheon.

Dan Balz / The Washington Post via Instagram

Later that week, Cain was back in Washington to speak at an Americans for Prosperity summit.

Amy E. Gardner / The Washington Post via Instagram

In his Americans for Prosperity speech, Cain called himself the Koch brothers’ “brothers from another mother.” Reporter Amy Gardner caught David Koch laughing in response.

Amy E. Gardner / The Washington Post via Instagram

Mitt Romney spoke at the same Americans for Prosperity session. Reporter Philip Rucker spotted him in the Boston airport on his way to Washington for the speech.

Philip Rucker / The Washington Post via Instagram

Romney, who at the time was tied with Cain for front-runner in several polls, had been enjoying big crowds in New Hampshire. Rucker captioned this #2012Unfiltered photo: “This is what it looks like to be 30 points ahead in New Hampshire. @MittRomney is mobbed.”

Philip Rucker / The Washington Post via Instagram

The excitement wasn't as palpable at every appearance. Here, a group of women in New Hampshire wait for Romney to speak.

Philip Rucker / The Washington Post via Instagram

You may see a similar picture to this one in a campaign ad. Rucker wrote: "In Iowa, @MittRomney's pro film crew making his campaign ads at Davenport rally. #2012unfiltered."

Philip Rucker / The Washington Post via Instagram

The campaign trail presents reporters with some pretty backdrops. This was taken from a plane window by Philip Rucker as he flew to Miami.

Philip Rucker / The Washington Post via Instagram

Fall and the open road. Rucker tweeted "I'm cruising around Iowa in a Hummer. Watch out, @MittRomney. #FrequentAvisPerks."

Philip Rucker / The Washington Post via Instagram

This was taken Nov. 5, before the Lincoln-Douglas debate between Herman Cain and Newt Gingrich. Rucker: "The view from The Woodlands, Tex., home to parking lots, shopping malls and, tonight, Newt Gingrich & Herman Cain."

Philip Rucker / The Washington Post via Instagram

Herman Cain's campaign manager Mark Block was spotted before the debate in Texas between Gingrich and Cain.

Philip Rucker / The Washington Post via Instagram

Newt and Callista Gingich hold a press conference while in Texas.

Philip Rucker / The Washington Post via Instagram

Cain's first debate with all the major candidates since the sexual harassment allegations were reported was in Michigan on Nov. 9. Rucker said: "Herman Cain arrives to huge crowd and thumping 'I Am America!' "

Philip Rucker / The Washington Post via Instagram

This is how the Democratic National Campaign welcomed Mitt Romney to Michigan, his home state, for the debate there Nov. 9.

Philip Rucker / The Washington Post via Instagram

On Nov. 9: "A look inside the #cnbcdebate filing center in Rochester, Mich. #2012unfiltered."

Philip Rucker / The Washington Post via Instagram

The morning after the debate, a packed crowd at a diner in Yspilanti, Mich., awaits Cain.

Philip Rucker / The Washington Post via Instagram

Rucker: "Cain said he thought he was coming to Mich. diner just for bacon & eggs."

Philip Rucker / The Washington Post via Instagram

Rucker: "A few miles from boyhood home, @MittRomney meets the Troy High Colts marching band. #2012unfiltered."

Philiip Rucker / The Washington Post via Instagram

Romney was presented with this custom steel logo when he visited a manufacturing plant in Dubuque, Iowa.

Philip Rucker / The Washington Post via Instagram

On Nov. 15, Rucker tweeted: "Look! It's the Holiday Inn's Holiday Inn sign factory, where @MittRomney is due to speak momentarily."

Philip Rucker / The Washington Post via Instagram

Reporter Perry Bacon Jr. gets an Instagram tutorial. Expect more #2012Unfiltered photos from him like the next two.

Natalie Jennings / The Washington Post via Instagram

Unlike in New Hampshire, where Mitt Romney is considered the front runner, the third-in-the-nation South Carolina primary is wide open. Here, Rick Perry walks to a parade in Columbia, S.C.

Perry Bacon Jr. / The Washington Post via Instagram

Newt Gingrich answers questions with his wife, Callista, by his side in South Carolina.

Perry Bacon Jr. / The Washington Post via Instagram

"Mitt, meet Mutt." Dan Balz covered Mitt Romney getting advice on what to eat at Mutt's BBQ in Greer, S.C. (We think he’s suggesting the brisket.)

Dan Balz / The Washington Post via Instagram

Romney adviser Stuart Stevens demonstrates to Dan Balz, AP's Kasie Hunt and Politico's Jonathan Martin. "Why Mitt's rivals don't attack him."

Dan Balz / The Washington Post via Instagram

The candidates are also frequently in Florida, the fourth primary state. Here, Cain holds a rally outside Versailles Bakery in Miami's Little Havana neighborhood.

Amy E. Gardner / The Washington Post via Instagram

On Herman Cain’s trip to Florida, Amy E. Gardner reported about several physical skirmishes between the candidate's bodyguards (one of several is shown here in Coral Gables) and reporters.

Amy E. Gardner / The Washington Post via Instagram

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