Cantor Declines to Criticize Bachmann Over Abedin Charges

Representative Eric Cantor of Virginia, the House majority leader, broke with other prominent Republicans and declined on Friday to criticize Representative Michele Bachmann of Minnesota and other House Republicans who have accused a top aide to Secretary of State Hillary Rodman Clinton of having links to the Muslim Brotherhood.

Ms. Bachmann and four other lawmakers last month sent a letter to the State Department charging that Huma Abedin, a deputy chief of staff in the State Department and a long-time aide to Ms. Clinton, may be a part of a group of Muslims with ties to terrorist organizations alleged to have infiltrated the federal government. Ms. Abedin is the wife of former Representative Anthony Weiner of New York.

Last week, Senator John McCain, Republican of Arizona, made the unusual step of taking the Senate floor to condemn the accusation as “an unwarranted and unfounded attack on an honorable woman, a dedicated American and a loyal public servant.”

Mr. McCain was soon followed by House Speaker John A. Boehner of Ohio, who called the unproved allegations “pretty dangerous.”

In an interview Friday morning on CBS’ “This Morning“, one that focused largely on Mr. Cantor’s opinions about Mitt Romney and the presidential campaign, the majority leader was asked by host Charlie Rose about his views and religious tolerances. Mr. Rose brought up Ms. Bachmann’s accusations, asking Mr. Cantor if they were “out of line.” Mr. Cantor said he believed “her concern was about the security of the country.”

Many Congressional Republicans have been vocal in their criticism of the Muslim Brotherhood and possible homegrown terrorist groups in the United States, but few have been eager to link themselves to Ms. Bachmann’s accusations.

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Bachmann Throwing a 'Hail Tebow' for a Last-Second Iowa Win? (ContributorNetwork)

COMMENTARY | It would be hilarious if it weren't so pathetic, this latest political ploy using some vacuous associative context to attempt to win over voters for Michele Bachmann just before the Iowa caucus. It would appear supporters of the Minnesota congresswoman, a candidate flailing in single digits in the presidential preference polls, has called upon a higher power to deliver her a win in the nation's first GOP electoral contest -- NFL quarterback Tim Tebow. The context? They're both defiant born-again Christians.

In a television ad released by No Compromise PAC, a narrator informs the audience that the "establishment" just "loves to hate" Tebow and Bachmann, asserting the Denver Broncos quarterback makes sports fans feel guilty because the avowed Christian doesn't "drink, cuss, smoke or kick opponents when they're down."

The ad goes on to make the comparison: "The same could be said of Michele Bachmann: No baggage, Christian and like Tebow, she keeps fighting and she just keeps winning votes."

So what is to be gained from the "hail Tebow" last-second pass? Tebow is popular (he just topped a poll where he would be America's most desirable neighbor). He's a Christian who wins games even though he's criticized for the way he plays and for his open display of his beliefs. Bachmann is a Christian who is criticized for the way she plays politics and for her beliefs. Therefore, Republican voters in Iowa should understand that, by linear logic, Bachmann is every bit as much a winner as is Tebow. Because she's a Christian.

And perhaps because Tebow throws the football like Bachmann? Maybe.

But Tebow and the Broncos have lost three games in a row (although the Broncos still made the playoffs) since reeling off six consecutive wins. Does the Super PAC ad mean to say if Bachmann loses the Iowa caucus and a few other contests, she'll continue campaigning?

Regardless, except for the fact the two are born-again Christians, the ad appears ludicrous, a thinly veiled and laughable attempt to draw on the popularity of a star football player for political gain. Where's the endorsement of the player himself?

Perhaps Bachmann and the guys behind the Iowa ad should take a knee. That is, try a little "Tebowing" before the caucus. Who knows? It can't be any less effective in Iowa than the ad.

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Bachmann: Former Cain backers moving her way (AP)

WASHINGTON – GOP presidential hopeful Michele Bachmann says many people who had supported Herman Cain in the race are getting behind her candidacy.

With Cain now out of the race, Bachmann says Republican voters see her as the tea party candidate and the "most consistent conservative" in the contest.

The Minnesota congresswoman tells CNN's "State of the Union" that Cain's supporters considered him as an outsider and that her conservative positions are most reflective of his.

Cain abandoned his White House bid on Saturday under the weight of sexual misconduct allegations.

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Bachmann not worried by 4th place Iowa poll finish (AP)

WASHINGTON – Michele Bachmann says she's not worried that a new Iowa poll puts her fourth among GOP presidential candidates.

But she won a straw poll in the state in August, was born in Iowa and is counting on a strong showing in the January caucuses.

Since the straw poll, the Minnesota congresswoman has struggled in the race, especially after Texas Gov. Rick Perry jumped in. Bachmann once led national public opinion polls, but got only 8 percent support in the new Iowa poll from the Des Moines Register.

Bachmann tells ABC's "This Week" that her campaign is "doing exactly what we need to do." She says she's campaigning heavily in Iowa and isn't worried about "day-to-day snapshots" of the race.

She's not saying whether Iowa is a must-win state.

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Poll: Ron Paul Could Beat Obama, More Electable Than Bachmann (ContributorNetwork)

COMMENTARY | And to think all it took was Jon Stewart chastising the national media for treating Ron Paul as if he was just an annoying voice in the room. A recent Gallup Poll not only indicates that the Texas Congressman is a viable Republican candidate for the 2012 GOP nomination, but that he is also considered more electable than the only person to garner more votes (than Paul) at the Ames Straw Poll held in mid-August -- Rep. Michele Bachmann.

Although the Gallup Poll, which was released on August 22, indicated that former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney had the best chance overall to defeat the incumbent Democratic president (Romney was the only Republican candidate to score better numbers than President Obama), Ron Paul polled only two points back of the President among registered voters (45 percent to 47 percent).

The margin of error for the survey was +/-4, which puts Paul within striking distance of a victory if pitted against Obama in a national election.

The interesting numbers in the poll seem to come from the party-affiliated respondents. A full 11 percent of Republican voters said they would vote for Obama if they had to choose between the two -- the highest percentage in the survey. The number, however, is offset by the number of Democrats who would defect and vote for Paul, which registered at 12 percent (also the highest percentage). Yet, among the important independent voters, those that candidates court more intensely due to their ability to shift an election (which would otherwise most likely remain fairly close and competitive along party lines), Paul also bests Obama by three points.

Minnesota Congresswoman Bachmann loses nationally to Obama by four points overall. She also loses the independent vote by six percentage points.

That makes him electable.

Back in February, when President Obama's approval ratings weren't as dismally low as they are currently and Donald Trump told the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) that Ron Paul could not win a national election (Paul subsequently won the CPAC straw poll), it might have appeared that the libertarian representative who also ran for president in 2008 would have a difficult time stepping outside his base of supporters, which constantly placed him with about 10 percent of the Republican electorate in polls. And that might have continued, even after Paul finished a strong second to Bachmann in the Iowa straw poll (she won by 152 votes). However, with national attention brought on by the national media's inattention to and outright dismissal of his candidacy, Paul's campaign seems to have gained political life that it did not exhibit before.

But can his campaign sustain its newfound momentum? Paul, known to be a fiscal conservative with set views on balancing the federal budget, getting America's military out of its foreign war involvements, and reducing the size and intrusiveness of the federal government across the board, would seem to be exactly the candidate that the GOP is looking for (especially given that his political positions are at the core of the tea party movement), yet has been generally ignored by his own party. If he can gain stronger support within his own party (only 82 percent; even Bachmann fares better with 86 percent) while contenders like Bachmann and Texas governor Rick Perry continue to make gaffes and policy mistakes, he may find himself in a dead-heat tie in a race for the Republican nomination with Mitt Romney.

Still, the poll numbers do not say Ron Paul will win the GOP nomination or a general election against President Obama. But they do say he can. And that's more than could have -- or even would have -- been said by most -- especially in the national media -- just a few days ago.

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Santorum Joins Bachmann, Pledges to Ban Porn, Same-Sex Marriages (ContributorNetwork)

COMMENTARY | Rick Santorum is always good for a laugh or ten. The fact that he's a former senator who lost his last time out and wants to be seriously considered as a viable GOP candidate may be the biggest laugh-fest he's given America yet, but the joke is mainly on himself (even though it probably wasn't meant to be self-deprecating).

Still, he seems to try and best his most ridiculous acts and statements every time he gets a chance, and this time he has, along with that other Republican merry prankster Michele Bachmann, R-Minn., a person who actually won her last political contest, signed a "Marriage Vow," a document that not only calls for defining marriage with a Constitutional amendment denying same-sex marriages but also calls for a ban on all pornography.

Good luck with the latter.

"When I first read it, I was taken aback by it," Santorum told Candy Crowley on CNN's "State of the Union."

"But I understand why they're saying it," he continued, "because it does undermine people's respect for the institution, respect for the people governing this country. If you can't be faithful to the people that you're closest to, then how can we count on you to be faithful to those of us who you represent?"

The Family Leader, a conservative Christian organization based in Iowa, wants all the GOP candidates to sign their pledge, entitled "The Marriage Vow -- A Declaration of Dependence Upon Marriage and Family." The vow asks candidates to affirm a pro-marriage stance, oppose same-sex unions, defines homosexuality as a "choice" (stating there is no empirical scientific proof that being gay is genetic), and notes that marriage is undermined by adulterous factors like quickie divorces and pornography.

"If you are looking at being at a leader of our great country, we would like to have you pledge personal fidelity to your own spouse and a respect for the marital bonds of others," Vander Plaats told the Des Moines Register.

If one might be thinking that the pledge might be a stab at the Democrats, what with the Anthony Weiner, D-N.Y., scandal just completed and the always within reach call-back to the President Bill Clinton-Monica Lewinsky White House scandal, it must be pointed out that the pledge could be a protectionist measure as well. In the past few years, several Republicans, such as Sen. John Ensign, R-Nev., who was considered a future presidential contender, and Rep. Chris Lee, R-N.Y., both resigned over fidelity issues.

Of course Weiner, Ensign, and Lee all now have about as much chance of becoming president as does Santorum, but at least he doesn't mind signing pledges that sound divisive and accomplish nothing. Or maybe something.

Remember, this is the guy who once said: "I have no problem with homosexuality. I have a problem with homosexual acts." He made the comment just before acknowledging that he disagreed with the Supreme Court ruling that individuals have a right to privacy and that such matters should be democratically controlled.

Funny thing: Iowa already is a same-sex marriage state, allowing homosexual unions. But, as many who paid attention in civics and history classes know, a Constitutional amendment would trump a state's law, either enhancing or nullifying it. Since defining marriage as a purely heterosexual union is the aim of the pledge, enhancement is a moot point. However, keeping the amendment away from abridging other freedoms protected in the Constitution might be a problem.

And pornography? A federal law or amendment banning pornography could become a problem in an industry that is disseminated in hard copy formats and on the Internet (not to mention via phones). But these guys, Bachmann and Santorum, are free-market Republicans, correct? A ban on porn would facilitate the emergence of an illegal underground industry (considering the 40 million Americans access porn sites regularly). It is already a multi-billion-dollar per year industry (and that's just on the Internet). Perhaps a return to the days of Prohibition (just substitute sex for alcohol) might be necessary for the government to begin regulating the adult industries (which are already regulated -- but aren't Republicans against most governmental regulating of businesses?). Besides, banning pornography for these guys would be simple. Unlike many who use pornography as a sexual stimulant and relationship enhancer, Bachmann and Santorum obviously do not need such in their lives, having eleven children between them in their respective marriages.

At least taking a second vow of marital fidelity might not have been a waste of time (if one assumes, just for laughs, that either of these two will ever become president). Besides, fidelity has always been the measure of a great leader. One great example is the Bible's own King Solomon, who is reported to have had hundreds of wives and concubines, to all of whom he was probably faithful (maybe, most likely... it was a long time ago, so who really knows?). But the "Marriage Vow" equates bigamy and polygamy to homosexuality, which Santorum and Bachmann would like to restrict -- or so they've pledged. Maybe the ruler considered to be among the wisest of all time was not a great example. Perhaps a better example would have been King David...

Funny how there seems to be a lot of reconciling that has to be done with regard to that pledge.

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Pawlenty chides top adviser over Bachmann comment (AP)

AMES, Iowa – Republican presidential candidate Tim Pawlenty says a top campaign adviser was wrong to suggest GOP rival Michele Bachmann's popularity was due partly to her "sex appeal."

One of Pawlenty's senior campaign advisers, Vin Weber, made the comment during an interview with The Hill, a congressional newspaper. Weber was explaining why he thought the Minnesota congresswoman would be difficult to beat in Iowa's leadoff nominating caucuses in February.

Pawlenty, Minnesota's former governor, told The Associated Press during a campaign stop Wednesday in Iowa that Weber wasn't speaking for the campaign and "you shouldn't use sex appeal in evaluating a candidate's fitness for office." Weber has apologized for the remark.

Bachmann recently finished near the top in an Iowa poll. Pawlenty was campaigning in northern and central Iowa Wednesday.

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Tea Party Rift? Jim DeMint 'Disappointed' in Michelle Bachmann Over Pledge (ContributorNetwork)

While hawking his new book, The Great American Awakening, Sen. Jim DeMint, R-S.C., told CNN's Christine Romans on "American Morning" today that the government had to stop spending more than it received in revenues. As part of the ongoing budget battles in Congress, the South Carolina senator has developed a pledge for the Republican candidates to sign that advocates stricter spending policies, but fellow tea party favorite Michele Bachmann, a recent poll climber in the present 2012 GOP field, has not signed on.

DeMint finds Bachmann's reluctance "disappointing."

It does not appear to be a rift in the wording of the "cut, cap, balance" pledge, which is designed to slash spending and balance the budget, but in the overall message. Apparently, according to DeMint, Bachmann does not think the pledge goes "far enough."

Romans asked if the Senator was disappointed. "Yes, I am disappointed," he said. "She says she wants to add things like repealing Obamacare, but my point is: This is not the conservative agenda. What it is is one focus we have to have is we have to stop spending more than we're bringing in. Let's let the states decide. This is a point of leverage. If we don't get a balanced budget now, we probably won't anytime in the next few years, maybe never, and we could bankrupt our country in the next 18 months."

Part of that "bankrupt" status comes in the form of whether or not the nation is able to pay its debts, which currently it can only do if it is allowed to borrow enough money with which to maintain operations. According to law, the debt ceiling would have to be raised in order for the U. S. Treasury to borrow enough to pay and keep the nation solvent. Otherwise, according to Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner, the government will have to shut down everything save essential government operations after Aug. 2. However, Michele Bachmann, in keeping with her tea party agenda (the Minnesota Republican also is the elected leader of the House Tea Party Caucus), maintains that she will not vote to raise the debt ceiling, which is, in effect, curbing spending.

In short, Bachmann seems to agree with Sen. DeMint's pledge, she just seems to think it should include a bit more, like repealing the health care reforms.

But Bachmann just might be shooting herself in the political foot with single-mindedness when dealing with the Health Care reforms issue. Sen. Jim DeMint is considered somewhat of a "kingmaker" when it comes to politicians, his favor curried by any and all that associate themselves with southern, Tea Party, and South Carolina political offices and issues. Of the major 2012 Republican presidential contenders, six have signed his pledge.

A Public Policy Polling South Carolina miscellaneous survey in June showed that Bachmann only garners 13 percent of Republican support when matched up against her GOP colleagues. However, if DeMint were one of the choices for president, her support falls to 5 percent (DeMint: 35 percent).

Refusing to sign Sen. DeMint's pledge might not be a campaign killer, but it could be. South Carolina is traditionally the first primary in the South, a place that has in the past made and broke campaigns. DeMint has stated he will not support a candidate that does not sign his pledge. So disappointing the Senator might lead to Michele Bachmann's disappointment in her run for the presidency.

The South Carolina Primary as yet has no definite scheduled date.

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How a Rick Perry, Michele Bachmann fight would shape GOP race (Exclusive to Yahoo! News)

Now that former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman has announced his candidacy for the GOP presidential nomination, the biggest question remaining is whether Texas Gov. Rick Perry will jump into the race.

If former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin opted in, watching her and Rep. Michele Bachmann of Minnesota tangle would be worth the price of admission. That bout is unlikely to materialize, but a Perry-Bachmann fight for supremacy among social conservatives and tea party Republicans would also be entertaining. Both have the potential to raise a lot of money, motivate armies of passionate conservatives, and run no-holds-barred campaigns aimed at the two-thirds of Republicans who prefer their politics unvarnished and undiluted. Even though Bachmann and Perry would be going after the same market, that hard-core space in the GOP is large enough to prolong the fight for a while.

The potential for Perry and Bachmann to suck all the conservative oxygen out of the campaign is great, and their rivals for the right side of the GOP bracket, such as businessman Herman Cain and former Sen. Rick Santorum, will have to fight for attention. Just as the battle between Sens. Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama in 2008 left their nomination rivals gasping for air and attention, a Bachmann-Perry duel could have the same effect in the more conservative and larger of the two GOP tournament brackets. Rep. Ron Paul of Texas and former New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson will have their own competition for the narrow but vocal libertarian faction of the party, and former Speaker Newt Gingrich will have to deal with the perception that he is running against himself—and losing.

That leaves former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, and Huntsman battling over the smaller, less conservative bracket. Each is hoping that he can emerge as the non-fire-breathing conservative contender in the GOP nomination championship game. Each believes that the electability argument will work in his favor, that Republican voters will choose him as the one who can play the best game against President Obama.

Electability has not been the strongest argument for a candidate seeking a party's presidential nomination, but Republicans' antipathy toward Obama is so great that such a platform might work. A June 8-11 Gallup/USA Today poll found that among 851 Republicans and Republican-leaning independents, 50 percent said they preferred the type of candidate who would have the best chance of beating Obama; 44 percent would choose a candidate they agreed with on most issues. While the gap between the two options was not statistically significant, it was conservatives who preferred the more-electable candidate by 10 points, 52 percent to 42 percent; moderates and liberals preferred a nominee they agreed with by 8 points, 51 percent to 43 percent.

The obvious danger for Bachmann and Perry is that they might move too far to the right in trying to outflank each other. In that case, whoever wins the one-on-one game could realize only a Pyrrhic victory—unable to make a convincing case that he or she could attract enough moderate voters to defeat Obama. So the question for Bachmann and Perry may be less about how conservative they are and more about where they will end up after fighting it out among themselves.

All of this is purely theoretical, of course. During the 2008 election, one could have easily argued that the marathon battle between Clinton and Obama had the potential to force the victor too far to the left to win a general election. That obviously didn't happen. Perhaps that is because their fight wasn't about who was more liberal. Instead, it was more of a generational clash. Each projected a different vision, with the older Clinton representing a more conventional image and the younger Obama conveying a more inspirational style.

One way of thinking about the fight for the GOP nomination is that, in the end, Republican voters will have a roster of players from which to choose. They can pick an unadulterated conservative or someone who is more pragmatic and less hard-edged. It's an ideological distinction but also very stylistic. One type of Republican is like the golf fan behind the rope at the U.S. Open, politely clapping after a good shot. The other is like a Philadelphia Flyers hockey fan, screaming with eyeball veins on the verge of popping.

Although many Republicans remain less than enthusiastic about the field of candidates, it's still very early. As the campaign engages, the competition more fully develops, and the perceived value of the nomination rises, we might see the roughest, bare-knuckle fight for the GOP nomination in memory

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Michele Bachmann Must Capitalize on Debate Performance to Win GOP Ticket (ContributorNetwork)

COMMENTARY | Michele Bachmann filed paperwork Monday announcing her candidacy for president of the United States. She made it official by making the announcement at that night's debate on CNN, where, by most accounts, she was the star. Bachmann was enthusiastic, graceful, and quick-witted, exuding confidence that some of her rivals lacked.

She now needs to capitalize on her debate performance and broaden her appeal and name recognition among the voters outside of Minnesota. It will be a long road to the White House, where pitfalls must be avoided and opportunities must be seized. Her stellar performance at the debate will be an advantage and a disadvantage to her in the upcoming primary season.

Advantages

Iowa

Although a Congresswoman from Minnesota, Bachmann was born in neighboring Iowa, home of the first caucuses. According to the Associated Press, Bachmann has broad appeal to both fiscal and social conservatives as well as evangelicals, who make up the majority of Republican voters in the Iowa caucuses. She has made numerous trips to Iowa, New Hampshire, and South Carolina in a bid to round up support in the early voting states. Mitt Romney avoiding the straw poll in Ames adds to her advantage in Iowa.

Her family story

Bachmann has a compelling family story that resonates with voters. Her parents divorced when she was young and she was raised by a single mother. She has since been married to her husband Marcus for over 30 years. They have five children of their own and have opened their home to be the foster parents to 23 other children. Because of this, she has earned bipartisan praise in Congress for being one of the leading advocates for adopted and foster children.

Engaging, confident, and well-informed

Bachmann is an engaging, confident public speaker with an excellent command of the facts. Monday night's debate only added to her appeal, showing her "as a competent, knowledgeable insider who would nonetheless carry on the fight against big government with the zeal of a Tea Party activist," reports the New York Times. According to Andrew Hemingway, president of the New Hampshire Republican Liberty Caucus, "In her demeanor, in the way that she carried herself -- she walked out of that debate where everybody said, 'She is a very serious candidate.'" Overall, she projected confidence, and voters want to elect a confident leader.

Disadvantages

Media coverage

The media are beginning to take her candidacy seriously. While prone to the occasional gaffe, and what politician isn't, some of the more liberal members of the media will use that to discredit her. In the aftermath of Monday's debate, some writers have dropped coverage of Sarah Palin and switched to Bachmann. While compliments were forth coming, some were of the back-handed variety, such as "she was at ease and forceful without looking crazy or out-of-control" from E.J. Dionne at the Washington Post.

President Obama's main strength in the 2008 campaign was controlling the media message. Bachman will need to do the same to avoid the Sarah Palin "I can see Russia from my house" quotes.

Political experience

Bachmann is light on political experience at the national level, having served in the House since 2007. Prior to that, she served in the Minnesota State Senate for six years, diving into the race in a fight over school standards. Before entering politics, she spent five years as a federal tax litigation attorney, working on civil and criminal cases. Her litigation experience shaped her support for simplifying the tax code and reducing the tax burden for families and small businesses.

Campaign infrastructure

Bachmann is a proficient fundraiser, collecting over $13 million for her last House campaign. Unfortunately for her, that does not translate into the organization and infrastructure to run a national campaign. She has been gathering the support of up-and-comers in the GOP, tapping Iowa State Sen. Kent Sorenson to run her Iowa campaign. Ed Rollins, Mike Huckabee's 2008 national campaign director and the orchestrator of Ronald Reagan's landslide win in 1984, has signed on to be Bachmann's campaign director, according to CBS News. Rollins also brought in Brett O'Donnell, adviser to George W. Bush and John McCain, considered the best debate coach in politics.

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Bachmann won’t seek House re-election … for now (The Ticket)

Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.) disclosed this week that she will suspend her House re-election campaign as she competes for the GOP presidential nomination. But that doesn't mean you can completely count her out for her St. Cloud-area 6th District race.

Bachmann announced during Monday's GOP presidential debate that she had filed paperwork for a formal run and later revealed on her Facebook page that as a result, she "suspended her Congressional campaign and is no longer actively seeking re-election" to the House.

But that doesn't mean she's completely out of the game.

Bachmann will have ample time to resume her House campaign in 2012 if she fails to gain traction in the early presidential nominating contests-- the filing deadline for her Aug. 24 House primary remains open until June 5, according to the secretary of state's website.

Even if Bachmann has challengers for her seat by June, she will still be the instant frontrunner having just secured a national profile in the presidential race. Plus, she could have a large cash advantage--it would be legal for Bachmann to transfer money from a presidential account to a federal campaign account, depending on the types of committees used.

Bachmann is certainly not the first sitting House member to keep her options open.

In the last presidential election alone, two sitting members of Congress--Reps. Ron Paul (R-Tex.) and Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio)--ran for president, failed, and jumped right back into their 2008 House re-election races, which they each won.

Other sitting members, such as Reps. Duncan Hunter (R-Calif.) and Tom Tancredo (R-Colo.) chose to announce their retirements from Congress as a testament to their commitment to the 2008 presidential race.

UPDATE: 1:30 p.m. EST: Minnesota GOP Chairman Tony Sutton told Politico's David Catanese that he will keep the field clear for Bachmann.

(Photo of Bachmann: JD Pooley/AP)

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The GOP Debate Surprise: Michele Bachmann Steals the Show (Time.com)

Rep. Michele Bachmann used Monday night's CNN/WMUR's debate between GOP presidential hopefuls as an unconventional venue to make it official: She's running for President.

"I just want to make an announcement here for you, John, on CNN tonight," Bachmann told the debate's moderator, John King. "I filed today my paperwork to seek the office of the presidency of the United States today, and I'll very soon be making my formal announcement. So I wanted you to be the first to know."

Her statement was followed, minutes later, by an e-mailed press release, making it official that Bachmann will not seek reelection to Congress and instead aspires to the highest office in the land. "Our country needs a leader who understands the hardships that people across America have been facing over the past few years, and who will do what it takes to renew the American dream. We must become a strong and proud America again, and I see clearly a better path to a brighter future," she said in the statement. "For these reasons, earlier this evening I instructed my team to file the necessary paperwork to allow me to seek the office of President of the United States."

(What you missed if you did not watch the debate)

Bachmann had pledged to make her decision in Iowa - and her formal announcement will likely still be there - but in doing it at the debate, Bachmann captured headlines and buzz. In many ways, the Minnesota congresswoman stole the show. As the only woman on the same New Hampshire stage where in 2008 then Senator Barack Obama quipped condescendingly to Hillary Clinton, "you're likeable enough," Bachmann out-charmed her male rivals. She slapped Newt Gingrich on the wrist playfully when he said he preferred American Idol over Dancing with the Stars (a subtle dig at Sarah Palin?) with a cackling laugh that sounded eerily like Clinton's. She gushed when asked to choose between Elvis and Johnny Cash, and finally said "both." And she underlined her biography, mentioning her 30+ year marriage, five biological children and 23 foster kids three times.

She smartly threw Obama's words back at him on the debt ceiling, saying someone "far more eloquent than I" had once made the case to vote against it. Obama voted against raising the debt ceiling as a senator in 2006 - a vote he says he now regrets. She spoke convincingly of her impassioned pleas to the House GOP conference and then-Treasury Secretary Hank Paulson to block TARP in 2008. She spoke forcefully of her pro-life bonafides. And she showed surprising foreign policy chops as the newest member of the House Intelligence Committee in articulating her opposition to U.S. action in Libya. "That sound you hear is millions of jaws hitting the ground by Bachmann's stellar answer on Libya," tweeted RedState.Com's Erick Erickson. "She just did very well with that." Less than an hour into the debate, "Bachman" (sic) was trending on twitter.

(More on TIME.com: In GOP New Hampshire Debate, Bachmann Provides Fireworks as Romney Escapes Unscathed)

Bachmann benefitted from low expectations. "She was as good in this debate as she was awful in her alternative response to the State of the Union address," said Larry Sabato, a presidential scholar at the University of Virginia. I can see why she might do better than expected in Iowa and beyond." And she showed that she is, actually, quite media savvy. She didn't make the announcement in her opening remarks, as that was precious time she could use on her biography, instead waiting for her first question on proposed repeal of financialregulation to do it. She was poised and relaxed. She even impressed Democrats. "[Former Massachusetts Governor and the presumed front runner Mitt] Romney's polish was perhaps to be expected," tweeted Washington Post liberal blogger Ezra Klein. "But Bachmann is much newer to politics than much of the field. Her ease is impressive."

Bachmann used the debate often to speak directly to the audience at home. She was one of the few candidates who looked at the camera, often addressing it rather than audience in front of her. And her first headline announcement wasn't her only proclamation of the night. "I want to make a promise to everyone watching tonight," she said, underlining that she was the first member to introduce a bill to repeal Obamacare. "As President of the United States, I will not rest until I repeal "Obamacare." It's a promise. Take it to the bank; cash the check. I'll make sure that that happens."

(Why Pawlenty's poor showing is a serious liability)

And on answering a question about the Tea Party, she added a direct plea to all Republicans: "We need every one of us in the three-legged stool. We need the peace through strength Republicans; we need the fiscal conservatives; we need the social conservatives. We need everybody to come together, because we're going to win. Just make no mistake about it. I want to announce tonight, President Obama is a one-term president!" she yelled over cheers and applause. "We'll win!"

A strong Bachmann candidacy could spell trouble for former Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty, who is betting on Iowa. Bachmann, with her 23 foster kids, has a natural appeal to the Hawkeye State's powerful home schooler and evangelical voting blocs. Her ascendancy also spell trouble for Sarah Palin, if the former Alaska governor and vice presidential nominee is indeed thinking of running. The two women would compete to appeal to similar voters and donors.

The firebrand Bachmann - who once labeled Americorps a dangerous example of big government expansion rather than a volunteer program, accused Obama of spending $200 million on his trip to India by bringing 2,000 staff and 34 warships with him - a charge the Pentagon labeled "comical," and accused the U.S. Census Bureau of spying on Americans by asking for too much information - was toned down tonight. The only hint at her Tea Party roots came when she called for the abolition of the Environmental Protection Agency, which she said should be renamed "the job-killing organization of America."

Of course, Bachmann remains relatively untested. "Media is going to hunt down and check out all 23 foster kids if she wins Iowa," tweeted GOP strategist Mike Murphy. She is just entering her third term and with only five years in Congress, she can't employ the familiar GOP criticism of President Obama that he is too green and unqualified for the job.

(See the top 10 debate flubs of all time)

There is also some question about her staying power. Though she started off the strongest, she faltered towards the end. "As a second tier candidate, she punched through and surprised everyone with a good first performance," says GOP strategist Ron Bonjean. "However, she gave a confusing answer over the role of the federal government and the rights of the states over gay marriage." Bachmann said she supports both the right of states to make up their own mind on gay marriage and that marriage should be defined as only between a man and a woman federally - contradictory positions. She also fumbled a question about whether or not Don't Ask Don't Tell should be reinstated, saying it should be up to the "commanders in chief."

But Monday night was still a net positive for the Minnesota congresswoman, a well-used opportunity to raise her profile and make the big announcement.

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Extreme Positions, Low Polls Make Bachmann Unelectable (ContributorNetwork)

COMMENTARY | In a master stroke of media savvy, Michele Bachmann announced her intention to seek the Republican nomination during Monday's GOP debate in New Hampshire. Appearing polished and poised, Bachmann certainly looked the part. Though her war chest is sizable, she'll have plenty of stumbling blocks to overcome, both with voters and within her own party.

Bachmann's advantages as a candidate

Bachmann is polished, professional and attractive

Bachmann's looks will be an asset on the campaign trail. She is pretty, poised and intelligently articulate in a way that Sarah Palin isn't. While Bachmann may be controversial when she speaks, her look is unquestionably presidential.

Bachmann has strong backing in the Tea Party and Religious Right

Bachmann's small government and anti-abortion positions have made her the darling of both the Tea Party and the religious right. Her supporters are vocal and willing to open their checkbooks for her. Despite restrictions on non-profits endorsing candidates, Bachmann's name will be spoken from church pulpits across the nation.

Bachmann has a sizable war chest and the ability to get more

The Center for Responsive Politics reports that Bachmann's 2009-2010 campaign raised $13.5 million, with the vast majority coming from individual donors. While that sum is impressive, the congresswoman will need every penny to go head-to-head with frontrunner Mitt Romney, who brought in $107 million during his 2008 campaign.

Bachmann's disadvantages as a candidate

Bachmann comes in near the bottom in most polls

A Gallup poll Monday showed that only 5 percent of Republicans would choose Bachmann as their preferred candidate. Bachmann trailed every known candidate except Newt Gingrich. While Bachmann's debate performance will boost those numbers, she has a long way to go to close on Romney's 24 percent. Even worse, a Jan. 20 poll by Public Policy Polling showed Bachmann losing to Obama 51-33.

That's bad news for Bachmann, since Gallup also reports that the most important issue in choosing a candidate for 56 percent of conservative Republicans is the ability to beat Obama. The only poll Bachmann has ever won was an April survey of evangelical and conservative Christians at Liberty University, according to CNN.

Bachmann can't keep staff

Like Newt Gingrich, Bachmann has been plagued by high staff turnover. The Daily Caller reports that Bachmann lost her legislative chief of staff and her highly successful campaign finance director just before Monday's debate. USA Today reports she has churned through six chiefs of staff since taking office in 2007. If Bachmann is to have any chance at the nomination, she'll need to solve her staffing issues.

Bachmann's positions are too extreme

The biggest drawback for Bachmann's candidacy is a history of unelectable policy positions. Her version of small government means eliminating Medicare and "weaning people off" Social Security, according to The Minnesota Independent: ideas that won't go over well with seniors or mainstream Republicans. Other agencies on the chopping block include the departments of Education, Energy and Commerce, as reported in the Des Moines Register.

The front page of Bachmann's political action committee, MichelePAC, features a prominent link to a petition urging legislators to push the government into default by refusing to lift the debt ceiling, a move with disastrous consequences, Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke told Reuters.

Bachmann's stringent anti-abortion views may not allow exceptions for rape or incest, another unpopular extreme. CBS News reports that Bachmann supported Republican-introduced legislation limiting Medicaid funding for abortions except in cases of "forcible" rape, a definition that would have excluded cases of incest, statutory rape or any case where there was insufficient force (the word "forcible" has since been dropped). Bachmann also favors mandatory teaching of intelligent design in public schools, reports Politico.

The culmination of these views impairs Bachmann's chances not only for election should she receive the nomination, but also her chances of winning the nomination at all. Even as a running mate, her willingness to state controversial views in provocative language cannot be anything more than a distraction.

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Bachmann Has Money, Name; Can She Avoid Being Labeled a Nut? (ContributorNetwork)

COMMENTARY | Michele Bachmann for president? This is the hope of the Republican representative from Minnesota -- if she can persuade the voters and the GOP to give her the nomination. The candidate's biography and her political connections present the electorate and party with a choice that is anything but clear-cut.

Take, for example, her ability to find funding. Terming it "fundraising prowess," the Washington Post has to grudgingly admire her ability to raise $13.5 million during the election cycle spanning 2009 to 2010. In spite of then-spotty name recognition, she quickly showed that she could outspend even the more well-known competitors.

Compare this to John Boehner's $9.8 million, and it is clear that Bachmann finds deep pockets easily -- recession or not.

Even more impressive is the fact that she managed to get this much money primarily from small donors -- the $200 and under crowd -- which bodes well for a strong grassroots effort. While any Republican candidate for highest office -- once nominated -- can count on the corporate donor, it is the high number of contributing voters who make her an attractive choice for rallying the base.

Note also her founding of the Tea Party Caucus. Due to the somewhat uneasy alliance between the Republicans and the Tea Party, she is the perfect middle of the road candidate, with one foot firmly in one camp and the other foot in the other.

Name recognition is another strong advantage for this would-be candidate. Gallup shows that Bachmann has a 62 percent margin of name recognition, which places her behind Ron Paul, Mitt Romney, Newt Gingrich and Sarah Palin (who is not running yet). She ranks third in positive intensity with 18 percent, which places her just barely behind Romney's 19 percent.

While these advantages might have some in the GOP waving the "Michele Bachmann for President 2012" signs, this mirth is premature.

The very Gallup poll that shows her as a viable candidate also reveals her to be a permanent second fiddle to Romney, who is positioning himself ahead in "strongly favorable" as well as "favorable" ratings. She beats him among voters who view Romney with an attitude that is "strongly unfavorable," which is not exactly the hallmark of a strong GOP candidate. Just by looking at the numbers, Bachmann is not the clear choice among pollsters or the Republicans they interview.

While Romney must contend with "Romney-care" and Newt Gingrich will forever carry "Cap and Trade" legislation with him, Bachmann has opined on Social Security and Medicare, which is not making many friends among voters. Think Progress explains that -- in 2010 -- Rep. Bachmann told a friendly crowd how anyone already in the system would remain there, but everyone else had to be weaned off.

It matters little if this approach makes dollars and therefore sense; it is so unpopular among Republicans and Democrats alike that the GOP will tread lightly to go against President Barack Obama with a conservative who cannot get the moderates, independents and seniors behind her.

Of course, the biggest problem she has is the very aspect that endears her to a small but loyal fringe: her view on the one-world government, according to Politico.

"Clearly this is a very bad direction because when you join the economic policy of different nations, it is one short step to joining political unity and then you would have literally, a one world government," Bachmann said. This is the type of buzzword a candidate must steer clear of, unless she or he will be considered as a bit of a conspiracy theorist (read: nut).

Clearly, it is too late for her to avoid this label.

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Michele Bachmann Won't Win the Presidency Despite Grassroots Support (ContributorNetwork)

COMMENTARY | In the wake of Michele Bachmann's very strong performance during the GOP debate in New Hampshire Monday, many people who had previously dismissed her as not being a serious candidate are having to reevaluate their position.

Bachmann does have some legitimate strengths and advantages over the other Republican candidates. Her biggest advantage is that her supporters passionately stand by her. They have stood resolutely beside her throughout all the controversy she has been involved with over the past few years. Mitt Romney has built up a tremendous campaign apparatus that is flush with campaign cash. However, that is more the result of the big donors of the party establishment making the calculated decision that Romney will be the party's nominee rather than a sign of their enthusiasm for him.

This fact was confirmed by Iowa GOP leaders practically begging Chris Christie to enter the race last month, even after his repeated denials, according to The Hill. The attempts being made at recruiting people such as Rick Perry further show the party's discontent with the current field. Bachmann has strategically positioned herself to be the choice of the Tea Party activists and social conservatives, and it is hard to see any of the other current candidates being able to appeal to that conservative base like she does. One only needs to look at the 2010 mid-term elections to see the effect the Tea Party constituency can have on an election; their embrace of Bachmann is significant.

Bachmann has also shown to be an effective fundraiser. This will be essential if she is able to mount a grassroots-based campaign that can challenge Romney. During her tough re-election fight for her congressional seat in 2010, she was able to raise $13.2 million, according to the Huffington Post. Most of these donations came from individual donors, which speaks volumes about her effective ability to raise large amounts of money even without much support from the Republican establishment.

Bachmann does not speak like a typical politician, and while that leads to controversial statements, it also will endear her to many Americans who are disillusioned with political speak and candidates full of equivocations. Also, a substantial amount of Americans are angry. They are unemployed or battling to keep their homes from foreclosure. Amongst the conservative base, there are widespread fears that the image of America they cherish is being systematically dismantled. The passion and firmness with which Bachmann argues on their behalf will make her a force for Romney and others to reckon with.

Unfortunately for the congresswoman, her biggest disadvantage far outweighs any advantages she has. The Republican Party wants to win the 2012 election, and there is absolutely no way she can win a general election. While the conservative base of the party enjoys her inflammatory rhetoric, the general electorate will not. President Obama was elected based strongly on his message of "Hope and Change." The American public wants someone who unites and inspires people.

Also, the Republican Party knows that its best chance to defeat President Obama will be to simply hammer him relentlessly on the economy. A Bachmann candidacy will distract from that message, as the party will have to spend precious time defending the criticism that will be directed at her numerous outrageous comments. The comments she has made on homosexuality, global warming, abortion, evolution, and the Obama administration make her unelectable. She will certainly inject some life into what is a remarkably lifeless Republican field, but in the end the GOP will nominate someone who can defeat President Obama.

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Romney, Bachmann in Republican debate spotlight (Reuters)

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Republicans Mitt Romney and Michelle Bachmann will be in the spotlight next week as the party's slow-forming presidential nominating race enters a new phase with its first major debate.

Nearly eight months before the first contest, Monday's nationally televised forum will give voters a chance to form early impressions of most of the top-tier contenders for the right to challenge President Barack Obama in 2012.

Seven White House hopefuls will participate, including three prominent candidates who skipped an early debate last month -- Romney, Bachmann and Newt Gingrich, who promises to be there despite Thursday's mass resignation of his senior staff.

The debate gives Romney, the marginal front-runner in an unfinished field, and Bachmann, an outspoken conservative who has not formally declared her candidacy yet, their first opportunity to test campaign themes on a national audience.

"It's a turning point. Up to now the only people paying attention have been activists and the media, and with this debate you get regular people starting to tune in and make first impressions," said Fergus Cullen, the former chairman of the New Hampshire Republican Party.

Four others who participated in a low-attendance first debate -- former Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty, U.S. Representative Ron Paul, former pizza executive Herman Cain and former U.S. Senator Rick Santorum -- also will be at the Manchester, New Hampshire, debate.

Romney, the former governor of Massachusetts, leads the Republican pack in most polls and his formidable fundraising has made him the uneasy front-runner. But the real competition at the debate could be among the other candidates, who will be vying to lead the party's anti-Romney wing.

"Who will emerge as the main alternative to Romney?" said Dante Scala, a political scientist at the University of New Hampshire.

"Will there be one of them who gives a performance that distinguishes them from the rest of the field?" he said.

AN OPPORTUNITY FOR BACHMANN

Bachmann could be a natural for the role. Her fiery attacks on Obama, Washington insiders and even her own party's leaders have made her a hit with cable news and conservative Tea Party activists.

She clearly stands out as the only woman in the field, but many Republicans have questioned whether she can form a credible national campaign.

Gingrich, former speaker of the House of Representatives, also faces skepticism about his future after staff desertions and a disastrous campaign launch that included an apology for criticizing Republican Representative Paul Ryan's budget plan.

Widespread dissatisfaction with the current field has led some Republicans to urge other big names to get into the race. Sarah Palin, the 2008 vice presidential nominee, and Texas Governor Rick Perry are among those still considering it.

Many party stalwarts already decided not to challenge Obama next year, when the White House's ability to control the campaign debate and raise more than $750 million in cash would make it a very difficult race.

The debate in New Hampshire, which holds the second nominating contest and could play a crucial role in the 2012 Republican nominating fight, will give candidates a chance to appeal directly to the state's influential activists.

Romney said on Thursday he will not participate in the Iowa straw poll in August, a key early test of organization strength in the state that kicks off the race. He is focusing his strategy on a win in New Hampshire.

Former U.S. Ambassador to China Jon Huntsman, another likely candidate who is expected to formally declare his candidacy soon, also has said he will largely skip Iowa to focus on New Hampshire and other states.

But Huntsman's decision to skip Monday's debate -- his campaign says he will not appear in debates until he officially enters the race -- has raised questions in New Hampshire.

"It's a missed opportunity, and it has people scratching their heads here," Cullen said. "Certainly everyone expects he will run, so why not do it? The upside outweighs any downside for him."

(Editing by Eric Beech)

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Palin adviser slams Bachmann strategist Ed Rollins for dissing the ex-governor (The Ticket)

It looks like Sarah Palin and Michele Bachmann might genuinely be frenemies now.

A day after Ed Rollins, Bachmann's top political adviser, trashed Palin in a radio interview, a top adviser to the former Alaska governor slammed the longtime GOP strategist and called on the Bachmann camp to retract his statements.

"Beltway political strategist Ed Rollins has a long, long track record of taking high profile jobs and promptly sticking his foot in his mouth," Michael Glassner, Palin's chief of staff, said in a statement to Politico's Ben Smith. "To no one's surprise he has done it again, while also fueling a contrived narrative about the presidential race by the mainstream media. One would expect that his woodshed moment is coming and that a retraction will be issued soon."

As The Ticket previously reported, Rollins criticized Palin Tuesday, insisting she's not as qualified to be president as Bachmann and is a joke candidate.

"Sarah has not been serious over the last couple of years," Rollins said. "She got the vice presidential thing handed to her. She didn't go to work in the sense of trying to gain more substance. She gave up her governorship."

Rollins responded to Glassner's statement with a semi-apology, telling ABC his comments had nothing to do with "Michele, Michele's campaign or any of the rest of it." "This was my transition from being an analyst to a political strategist, and I missed a step," he said.

But Rollins declined to take back what he'd said about Palin. "What's the retraction?" Rollins asked. "I say she's serious?"

Rollins' comments fueled the storyline that Palin and Bachmann are on the brink of a political catfight over the 2012 nomination—a dynamic that political observers have been pressing for weeks, in spite of evidence to the contrary. But both sides added fuel to the fire today in a separate piece in Politico in which the Palin and Bachmann camps sniped at each other—mostly via advisers who declined to be named.

"The view in Iowa is that she's unstable," an unnamed Bachmann aide told Politico. "When she resigned her position as governor that whole event seemed odd, and people in Iowa saw that."

Meanwhile, "a Palin associate" told the paper that the ex-governor has expressed "disdain" for Bachmann--even though another top Palin aide denies that.

Glassner's comments are telling, as Palin aides often don't speak publicly without the explicit permission of the former governor herself.

But that's not the only faux controversy dogging Palin. As ABC News's Sheila Marikar reports, Rep. Earl Blumenauer, a Democrat from Oregon, has launched in an inquiry into whether Palin's recent bus tour used excessive federal resources. He's calling into question the manpower the National Park Service offered to Palin on her tour of federal historic sites along the East Coast.

A Park Service spokesman tells ABC Palin did receive some special treatment—including early access to the Statue of Liberty—but it was no different from how any other "celebrity" would be treated.

"We treated her as any other celebrity that might come in," NPS spokesman David Barna told ABC, adding they'd do the same for "Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie."

(Photo of Palin: Steven Senne/AP)

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