Friday, July 22, 2011
A daily roundup of news and commentary on U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann.
Over the past several weeks, 6th District Congresswoman Michele Bachmann has undergone a remarkable transformation from a noted political gadfly to a serious and leading contender for the 2012 Republican presidential nomination. A new Star Tribune poll shows Bachmann with a huge lead in Iowa. But the New Republic (a left-leaning publication) says things are likely to get more difficult for Bachmann from here on out: [N]ow that Bachmann is the real deal, her candidacy is about to endure its toughest moments yet—including intensified scrutiny of her background and character (which is already very much under way), unrealistic expectations for her candidacy, a possible existential threat from Governor Rick Perry, and GOP elite misgivings about…
Thursday, July 21, 2011
A daily roundup of news and commentary about U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann.
The Wall Street Journal has a good overall summary this morning on where 6th District Congresswoman Michele Bachmann's presidential campaign currently stands—with surging polls and rising scrutiny. About those surging polls: when it comes to Bachmann vs. Mitt Romney, polls show the two candidates are neck-and-neck for the Republican frontrunner spot. But a new national poll out today shows that the odds change drastically when President Obama is thrown in the mix. Romney is virtually tied with the president, trailing him by a mere 2 percentage points, while Bachmann lags behind by a whopping 15. As for that pesky migraine issue that's been dogging the congresswoman all week, Bachmann on Wednesday released a doctor's note that claims her …
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
A daily roundup of news, and commentary on U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann.
Despite causing a new medical debate on the debilitating nature of migraines Tuesday, U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann is still enjoying a view from the top. Polls have her pulling away in her “home state” of Iowa. The latest info released by the Conservative Journal Blog’s “research” team. Bachmann on Tuesday took some time on her tour of South Carolina, site of an important 2012 primary, to address the migraine issue raised by various news outlets, including The Daily Caller. Bachmann told reporters the headaches were a “non-issue” for her, and that she was taking medication that kept her on track. Reports were that the headaches—known in Minnesota for sidelining popular Minnesota Viking Percy Harvin from time to time—have never rendered her …
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
A daily roundup of news and commentary on U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann.
A new national poll shows 6th District Congresswoman Michele Bachmann at the top of the 2012 Republican presidential field, beating closest competitor Mitt Romney by 1 percentage point. Bachmann signed the tea party-backed "Cap, Cut and Balance" pledge during a presidential campaign stop in South Carolina on Monday. The pledge opposes any increase in the U.S. debt limit until federal spending is reduced and the budget is balanced. To this, Bachmann added one other stipulation: the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (a.k.a. "Obamacare") must be defunded and repealed. Bachmann also attacked a $1.2 billion settlement authorized last year by President Obama to black farmers who alleged discrimination by the U.S. Department of …
Monday, July 18, 2011
A daily roundup of news and commentary about U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann.
Sixth-district congresswoman and presidential hopeful Michele Bachmann heads to South Carolina today, where she will become the ninth GOP candidate to sign the "Cut, Cap and Balance" pledge put forth by that state's own U.S. Sen. Jim DeMint. The pledge opposes any increase in the U.S. debt limit without "substantial cuts in spending," "enforceable spending caps" and passage of a "Balanced Budget Amendment." DeMint, a figure revered by many tea party conservatives, had previously expressed disappointment with Bachmann's apparent reluctance to sign the pledge. Bachmann told a group of supporters in Ames, Iowa that the Aug. 13 straw poll in that city will be "ground zero" for her presidential bid. The Des Moines Register breaks down the …
Thursday, July 14, 2011
A daily roundup of news and commentary on U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann.
Republican presidential hopeful Michele Bachmann continues to gain in Iowa this week. The 6th District congresswoman has secured a slight edge in the state over former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, who's making his second bid for the White House, a CNN political blog reports. Bachmann leads Romney by three points, 32-29, according to the poll. The news follows previous reports of Bachmann topping polls in the early-primary state, and Fox News says her lead has grown to double digits. Meanwhile Republican candidate Fred Karger, the first openly gay person to vie for presidential, called Bachmann a “hypocrite and bigot,” according to a piece in the Huffington Post. Elsewhere, questions about Bachmann’s faith continue to arise. The Atlantic…
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
A daily roundup of news and commentary on U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann.
Another new poll shows 6th District Congresswoman Michele Bachmann gaining steam among the Republican presidential field, more than doubling her support among GOP-leaning voters in a little more than a month. One pollster summarizes the findings: “The question about Representative Bachmann is whether she is the flavor of the month, like Donald Trump was for a while, or does she have staying power?” Peter A. Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute, said in a statement. Meanwhile, the New York Times says Bachmann is stepping up her fundraising operation with the addition of a pair of ex-Newt Gingrich staffers. Bachmann appeared on Sean Hannity's show Tuesday, where she explained her support of an Iowa group's…
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
A daily roundup of news and commentary about U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann.
Sixth District congresswoman and presidential hopeful Michele Bachmann has described herself as having a "titanium spine," but the Miami Herald says police records show a different side of the candidate. Several of the congresswoman's detractors have apparently wound up targets of police investigations for making critical comments either in person or via email. (In her defense, at least one of the incidents occurred in the aftermath of the Gabrielle Giffords shooting.) Speaking of investigations, ABC News reports that the Bachmann family clinic, run by Bachmann's husband Marcus, does indeed offer "reparative therapy"—a controversial practice whereby therapists attempt to "pray away" a patient's homosexuality (video). Mr. Bachmann has …
Monday, July 11, 2011
A daily roundup of news and commentary about U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann.
We begin today's roundup with some good news for 6th District Congresswoman Michele Bachmann's presidential campaign: a new poll puts her at the top of the Republican field in the critical early-caucus state of Iowa. News of Bachmann's ascent is apparently not sitting well with fellow Minnesotan and former Gov. Tim Pawlenty, who attacked her "nonexistent" record as a congresswoman Sunday during an appearance on NBC's Meet the Press. Bachmann hit back almost immediately. On a related note, the Star Tribune published a story over the weekend describing Bachmann as "more activist than legislator." Last week, Bachmann became the first presidential candidate to sign her name to a wordy and complex 14-point "Marriage Vow" proffered by a …
Thursday, July 7, 2011
A daily roundup of news and commentary about U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann.
Sixth district congresswoman Michele Bachmann is reaching out to Iowans with the first TV ad of her presidential campaign. In the 30-second spot, Bachmann stresses her Iowa roots, talks about being a mother and a lawyer, and declares "I will not vote to raise the federal debt ceiling"—potentially marking the first time that particular issue has been raised in a presidential campaign ad. From the Department of Underhanded Compliments: Yesterday, former 2nd District Minnesota Congressman Vin Weber, an adviser to Tim Pawlenty's presidential campaign, said Bachmann would be hard to beat in Iowa, in part because of her "sex appeal." Weber almost immediately apologized for the statement, and Pawlenty himself repudiated Weber's comments. In more…
Edward
10:14 pm on Sunday, July 24, 2011
Actually I like it, Jeremy. While they are taking swipes at each other they aren't addressing the real issues. It's fun. Why bother with stuff like the pesky debt ceiling and collapsing dollar? Pass the popcorn! more ›