Michele Bachmann said to ponder a presidential run
Michele Bachmann, yes, Michele Bachmann is considering a presidential run, according to several of her aides who suddenly started talking about the subject with Minnesota reporters.
In fact, the Iowa native (Waterloo) will travel to her home state later this month to talk against the massive spending of you-know-who at a fundraiser for the Iowans for Tax Relief PAC in Des Moines.
Bachmann, now starting her third House term, has proven a media magnet like her like-minded fellow Republican conservative Sarah Palin; both are often quoted, often derisively. This fall, Bachmann was targeted by numerous prominent Democrats but proved adept at raising both many dollars and votes.
Consumers of American political news should always be wary when they read about....
"The Iowa trip is part of a bigger picture. There's a national story line here," said Bachmann communications director Doug Sachtleben, virtually begging for national media coverage.
That kind of talk is usually a bank shot.
First off, Bachmann's idea of promoting herself into Republican congressional leadership for the 112th session that opened Wednesday was rebuffed by those same leaders, who did involve other more team-oriented "tea party" advocates. Rhetorical bomb-throwers a la Republican National Committee Chair Michael Steele tend to attract unwanted attention and shrapnel to those standing nearby.
Second, Abraham Lincoln and George H. W. Bush aside, Americans have not shown any historical proclivity to elect House members to the White House. (Mike Pence take note.)
Even those backroom-maneuvering senators have been frowned on as national chief executives. Barack Obama is only the third sitting senator to move over to the Oval Office, and look what's happened to his sky-high job approval since moving day.
However, even in an increasingly crowded GOP field, mumbling about running for president in this age of 24-hour news cycles can attract much publicity for potential candidates, unless you're Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty. And much publicity can attract crowds and, oh, by the way, much money. Especially if you appear to ride a rising tide of popularity and empowerment for successful conservative females.
These funds can then be used for your own campaign or to fertilize clout and influence by helping other like-minded politicians and causes. Mitt Romney's been doing that virtually since the day he conceded the 2008 GOP nomination to John McCain.
Palin's splashy primary endorsement of Nikki Haley in South Carolina last year ignited the surge that got the state legislator the nomination and the governor's job. Haley and her statewide organization might remember this come next year's early South Carolina GOP presidential primary.
And even if Bachmann's purported pondering does not result in presidential primary competition with pal Palin in 2012, it will raise Bachmann's national profile, not normally an easy thing to do for a representative from just any 6th Congressional District.
But, wait, do you know what else happens in 2012?
A Minnesota Senate race.
Democrat Amy Klobuchar was elected in the same 2006 anti-Bush fervor that washed Democrat majorities into control of both houses of Congress that year. However, voters' Nov. 2 job evaluation of many of those Democrats was harsh. Hence, dozens joined the unemployment line this month.
Klobuchar must face voters for her first reelection in 2012, when her fate will be tied closely to the popularity of Obama, the prime target of Bachmann for the next few months. Nine ball in the side pocket.
-- Andrew Malcolm
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Photo: Sarah Palin, left, and Michele Bachmann. Credit: Jim Mone / Associated Press
She needs electroshock therapy.
Posted by: Jolie | January 05, 2011 at 05:55 PM
If she were to run, and, God forbid, win, I will renounce my US citizenship and become an Irish citizen. She is a total embarassment to the State of Minnesota and politics in general.
Posted by: John | January 05, 2011 at 06:08 PM
She is to damned sexy!!! I would definitely vote for her. She has some great ideas and is a grounded conservative. She won't win, however. No conservative female politician has a chance in this country. The media will tear her apart. What a shame.
Posted by: Dennis Smith | January 05, 2011 at 07:25 PM
I am appalled and disgusted that we Minnesotans have elected and worse yet reelected Bachmann to anything. But go ahead and run for President in 2012, you'll be even easier to beat than Palin!
Posted by: Ivan Miller | January 05, 2011 at 07:33 PM
Palin/Bachman ticket. Obama would the president for 4 more years. Let Romney choose his running mate and send this guy back to Indonesia or any of the muslim countries he loves so much. Republicans have a golden opp. and to piss it away w/ Bachman/Palin would be a catastrophe.
Posted by: anthony eden | January 05, 2011 at 10:04 PM
It's always interesting to see Democrats venting their hatred on anyone who disagrees with them. Michele Bachmann is a tax attorney with a master of laws degree. She's also the mother of five kids. She's also a former federal prosecutor. She's also a hell of a lot smarter and obviously better able to think than the people venting their bile against her here. Any thinking person would obviously prefer her as President over Obama, Biden, or any other likely Democrat at this point.
Posted by: Tim Condon | January 06, 2011 at 12:42 AM
If Bachman Palin made it into the white house I would immediately leave the country for good.
Posted by: Derek G | January 06, 2011 at 01:20 AM
Thank you Anthony Eden. A run by these two on the Democratic ticket would be political suicide for both not to mention putting Obama back in the White House, which this country cannot afford for another four years. There are too many other good canditates the Republicans can run which the U.S. will support and put Obama & company out.
Posted by: Don | January 06, 2011 at 03:32 AM
I would prefer to see Bachman and Palin in a real female wrestling match.
Forget the politics, because neither of them are very good. And, no, it's not because they are women!
Posted by: catfightreport | January 06, 2011 at 04:05 AM
Obama had less experience when he began his run. is it because he is a man? or black? or liberal?
you pick, I've decided
nice "article"
Posted by: ChimpFight | January 06, 2011 at 04:42 AM
You people from Minnesota are an embarrasment not Michele. Electing Al Franken as your senator, or i mean you cheated to get him elected with all your dead people casting mail in ballots.
Posted by: Mark Black | January 06, 2011 at 04:43 AM
If the republicans want a female candidate she would be WAY better than Palin (who I can't stand) but I am still rooting for Mitch Daniels!!!
Posted by: Ricky T | January 06, 2011 at 05:40 AM
It is going be hard for republican to win in 2012...Romney can't beat Obama.Obama and his people know how to put people down and win.If I were Romney I would wait for an other term to run... because running against Obama could put any politician off the political scene.That guy can make you feel like you are nothing in from of the public.It is not because he is the best or nothing but it is his time . When it is your time to do something nobody can't stop you from doing it. I said that for president Bush when he was running for his second term with an unpopular image(WAR___ECONOMIC PROBLEM).Where is John Kerry?...I bet you he will never think about running for president for the rest of his life.This is what is going to happen to Romney or any other potential republican candidate who may think about running for president in 2012.
Mark my words please, everybody...
And remember (radioespacefm.com)
Posted by: Radioespace | January 06, 2011 at 05:54 AM
I like to see Katie Couric interview her.
Posted by: T.B. | January 06, 2011 at 06:07 AM
Eee-ooo-ww. She's a serious tin-foil hat wearer.
On the other hand, if she ran it would guarantee success for the Dems, so I say bring it on!
Posted by: I have to work downtown!! | January 06, 2011 at 08:24 AM
I’d vote for Michelle over most, and especially over Barry. She’s only a girl, but I still think she can do the job better than most men, and all the men who appear to be running.
Posted by: Bill589 | January 06, 2011 at 08:47 AM
As of this horrific Saturday maybe it is time to cool the conversations that rile up our country. Children also involved in this terrible incident. Think before
you speak. Not to Presidential at the moment with your wild mouth
Posted by: Allan | January 08, 2011 at 01:30 PM