Michele Bachmann denies ‘Dancing With the Stars’ rumors

This article was originally on a blog post platform and may be missing photos, graphics or links. See About archive blog posts.

Michele Bachmann is a pretty good dancer, but she won’t be doing the cha-cha when ABC’s ‘Dancing With the Stars’ returns March 19.

The Minnesota congresswoman released a statement on her website Wednesday denying recent rumors that she was slated to appear in the upcoming season of the long-running dance competition show.

Bachmann’s statement begins: ‘In full disclosure, I did win a polka dancing competition when I was in the tenth grade at my alma mater, Anoka High School in Anoka, Minn. But, despite my tenth grade polka success and my lifelong love of ballroom dancing, the recent rumors are false. I will not be joining ‘Dancing with the Stars.’ ‘

Bachmann isn’t the only former 2012 GOP presidential hopeful to leave the dancing shoes in the closet. On Tuesday, a spokesman for former candidate Herman Cain also confirmed that his boss wasn’t going to appear on the show, telling the Atlanta Journal-Constitution: ‘He can’t dance in an eight-count. He can only dance in a nine-count.’

Producers for the show, which is about to begin its 14th season, are no doubt looking to recapture the magic they found in late 2010 when Bristol Palin, daughter of Sarah Palin, garnered the series major attention.

In 2009, former U.S. House Majority Leader Tom DeLay became the first politician to participate in the show, making it three weeks before withdrawing from the competition because of an injury.

The cross-over of politics and dancing isn’t unique to the U.S. In 2004, during her (unsuccessful) run for Australian Senate, former House of Representatives member Pauline Hanson appeared on the Australian edition of the show, advancing all the way to the finals. And the Estonian edition of the show has seen several politicians participate, including Kristiina Ojuland, the country’s foreign minister.

The new lineup of participants in the U.S. ‘Dancing With the Stars’ will be announced Feb. 28.

RELATED:

‘Dancing With the Stars’ finale ratings drop

Michele Bachmann receives apology from NBC over Jimmy Fallon gag

Chaz Bono’s rep: ‘The sky will not fall when Chaz Bono dances’

--Patrick Kevin Day