Michele Bachmann increasingly serious about presidential bid

CNN Political Ticker ^ | 03/11/2011 | Peter Hamby

[SeekAndFind]

Washington (CNN) - Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann is increasingly serious about joining the wide-open race for the Republican presidential nomination in 2012.

And a growing number of conservative activists, legislators and political operatives in key states stand ready to help her if she does.

Bachmann, the chairwoman of the House Tea Party Caucus, arrives in New Hampshire on Friday for a two-day barnstorm of the first-in-the-nation primary state, her first foray there since floating her potential White House candidacy back in January.

News of the trip immediately stirred up grassroots excitement: A Bachmann-headlined fundraiser Saturday for the New Hampshire GOP was re-located to a larger venue because of "a very strong initial interest in this event," according to a state party official.

Bachmann has already met with prominent interest groups and well-placed officials in early caucus and primary states of Iowa and South Carolina, where both Tea Partiers and Republican regulars have been impressed by her easy rapport with conservative crowds.

The trips are having an acute impact on Bachmann's thinking about the presidential race, those around her say.

"She is leaning more toward doing it," one Republican close to Bachmann told CNN. "The people she's meeting on the ground, they love her. She is definitely more encouraged when she makes these trips."

Bachmann's political advisers are quietly laying the groundwork for a dark horse campaign should she choose to join the Republican fray at some point in the spring or early summer, when she has said she will make a final decision about the race. She is returning to Iowa later this month, and has scheduled a swing through the South Carolina low country in April.

"She is seriously considering running and getting a full team lined up and making sure it's the right one,"

[TSgt]

BACHMANN/WEST 2012!

[Victor]

Cool. This could blindside the Palin haters on the left....sort of a flanking move; intentional or not.

So much negative energy has been spent on Palin, the commies will never know what hit them if Bachman runs.

[ScottinVA]

Bachmann/West would work for me!!

[DaxtonBrown]

[Cool. This could blindside the Palin haters on the left....sort of a flanking move; intentional or not.]

How about the Palin haters on the right? Do I now get to bash Bachmann mercilously because of every perceived slight?

[who knows what evil?]

Bachmann and Palin have met before...maybe Bachmann knows Palin isn’t going to run...either one is fine with me.

[Gator113]

I find it interesting that this article is from CNN, and unlike Palin, they didn’t take one shot at her, not a single insult or negative inference.

Almost seems that they wish us to choose Bachmann over Palin.

I guess we’ll see their true intentions over time. LOL

[9YearLurker]

Same here.

[Peter from Rutland]

She’d be fantastic. She’s up in NH today and tomorrow.

[skeeter]

Bachmann is articulate, and she's fearless - doesn't care what the political effect of her words are.

I'd support her in a heartbeat.

[Tzimisce]

She’s got my vote.

[Victor]

"...How about the Palin haters on the right? Do I now get to bash Bachmann mercilously because of every perceived slight?...."

'Splain, please....

[ASA Vet]

Michele Bachmann

Born April 6, 1956 (Meets the 35 years Minimum age Requirement)

in Waterloo, IA (Meets the Jus Soli Requirement)

Parents were
David John Amble, born in MN
Jean Johnson, born in IA

Both parents were US Citizens at the time of her birth (Meets the Jus sanguinis Requirement)

Michele Bachmann is a NATURAL BORN CITIZEN unlike Comrade Barry.

[DaxtonBrown]

[’Splain, please....]

I am referencing a few un-named Freepers who can do nothing but spit venom at Palin because she is not “conservative” enough.

[DoughtyOne]

I could support her as well. She’s well grounded and her instincts seem solid to me.

[pissant]

Bachmann is a conservative.

[K-Stater]

Cool. This could blindside the Palin haters on the left....sort of a flanking move; intentional or not.

Not to mention all the Palin fanatics on the right.

[Victor]

Those people are ridiculous. If we have to wait for Superman or Superwoman to show up, part the Potomac and lead us into uber Conservative Utopia; the commies will continue to make end-runs around our Constitution and the American people.

People like Palin, Bachmann, and most recently the Guv of Wisconsin are the sort of people we need to make a difference.

Thanks the the 'splainin'....

[who knows what evil?]

Bachmann/DeMint or Bachmann/West; either with Palin as Secretary of Energy or Interior. She’ll issue some frickin’ permits...

[JaguarXKE]

Same here. I’m hoping for Palin - she’s the kind of strong no-nonsemse conservative that would cause liberal heads to explode. But if she doesn’t run, Bachmann would be someone I could easily support too.