Karl Rove was instrumental in most elections then. Just the way things worked. However, Bachmann faced far more attacks than just about anyone in congress - in fact, one could correctly say she was completely smeared by the MSM and the GOPe. What does that tell us?
Nothing, except they were assigned a role to play for the GOPe, same way Bachmann pinchhitted for Mitt in '12 against Palin's entry into the race.
There were the same attacks on Ted Cruz for the same grandstanding for "Tea Party Values"
Neither Bachmann nor Cruz accomplished ANYTHING with their fake Tea Party drama except enabling Obama.
Tea Party Grandstanding = Impotency (P.S. Don't forget Bachmann came in on W's coattails in '06, handpicked by Rove -- and contrast how Rove treated Bachmann compared to how the Bushies trashed Katherine Harris in EVERY way possible because she was not controlled by them.)