Posted on 06/06/2011 12:20:58 PM PDT by Al B.
As she prepares to enter the race in Iowa later this month, Minnesota Congresswoman Michele Bachmann has signed on high-profile political strategist Ed Rollins to run her presidential campaign, according to two sources close to Bachmann.
Rollins, who was Mike Huckabee's national campaign director in the 2008 campaign, is an experienced political operative with a well-earned reputation for his tough tactics and willingness to play hardball.
(Excerpt) Read more at cbsnews.com ...
I tend to agree. Here’s my take from here on the ground in Iowa: Sarah Palin right now is the overarching candidate, the powerhouse. She cuts across all demographics. Cain has the potential, but not there yet. Bachmann is after the Huck crowd, Romney is the center, center-right, center-left, Pawlenty the odd man out. Gingrich and the rest non-starters.
I don’t underestimate Bachmann, but I’m realistic too. Everyone knows that Huck’s network is up for grabs with Huck out and she’s trying to fill that niche. She, Pawlenty, and Gingrich (is he still in?) and any me-too’s need to win Iowa to get their name on the map. Palin, Cain, Romney just need a strong showing.
I don’t though think Bachmann will pull it off. She might but I don’t think so. The thing is Palin doesn’t need to win Iowa! If Bachmann or even Pawlenty came in first and Palin second it would be no big deal because those two campaigns have to this point no legs beyond Iowa. South Carolina and later is what Palin needs to win.
Palin’s threats are Romney and Cain. The thing is, even if Bachmann wins Iowa, she has a better than average chance of fizzling. Guess what? She’s coalesced a whole bunch of Huck voters that will need a home. That will be either Cain or Palin. Bachmann may end up being Palin’s stalking horse by accident.
We shall see. It’s near blasphemy among my political peeps but Iowa isn’t that important on the GOP side. Nor should it be, we have lost population and the votes aren’t here. You can retail politic just as easy in NH and SC. I think Palin has a 50 state strategy and the ability to win that.
Why are you posting to me about what *you* think Sarah Palin feels about Bachmann entering the race, when I've already posted what she said?
Bachann supporter *you* thinks Sarah Palin is pissed and I see absolutely no evidence of that. It's all in your tiny, frightened mind.
Ed Rollins? The Obama worshiper of 2008????
Legislatively speaking she was in over her head when she left state government.
Don't trust her. Her record doesn't match her rhetoric. I think she is doing the establishment's dirty work for a couple more earmarks and a number more pieces of silver to be determined later.
Rep. Michele Bachmann has tapped veteran strategist Ed Rollins to run her presidential campaign, the latest sign that she could be a formidable contender in the Iowa primary once she actually enters the race. Rollins orchestrated Mike Huckabee’s breakout Iowa victory in 2008, and also managed President Ronald Reagan’s 49-state sweep in 1984.
But Rollins is also known for managing the failed campaigns of non-traditional candidates (like Ross Perot and Michael Huffington), so in a way the choice accentuates Bachmann’s position as the “outsider” in the race. The Red State’s Erick Erickson, however, sees the pick as a bold move that will bolster the congresswoman’s chances of success in the early primaries:
I’m already hearing from people on the ground in Iowa that Bachmann has the potential to make huge waves there. Given what Huck did in 2008 and Rollins’ knowledge of the lay of the land, it could turn Michele Bachmann into a serious contender for evangelicals and transition her from just being seen as a tea party candidate.
Bachmann’s appeal is that she has both Tea Party credibility and Washington experience. The problem is that her reputation as a polarizing firebrand would probably make it difficult for her to prevail in a general election. The latest Rasmussen poll, which found that just 20 percent of voters say she’s qualified to be president, underscores this. But putting aside her chances of winning the presidency, Bachmann’s choice of Rollins shows that she’s at least serious about winning in Iowa.
Noone likes a two faced backstabber. Seriously hope for your sake she doen’t come out swinging for Mitt down the track.
BTW I’m still waiting for you to list out Bachmann’s huge list of accomplishments as an undistinguished Congresscritter...
Go to it ace!
LOLOLOL.
Now go find that *concerned someone else* to entertain you. I'm busy.
17, 22 and 7 pieces of legislation sponsored, none becoming law in her little less than 3 terms.
No significant committee assignment
No leadership positions within her own party
Quite frankly Obie had more to hang his hat on in this regard and we know how that turned out.
“I’m still waiting for you to list out Bachmann’s huge list of accomplishments”
LOL. You are going to be waiting a long time for that. She hasn’t ...err...accomplished anything yet. You will have to wait until she does, assuming she has time and doesn’t lose her reelection to the seat, which just became exponentially more likely.
Give me one example where she’s come out swinging for Mitt?
My hunch is that Michelle is "slow on her feet." Not stupid (she's a tax attorney), just easily swamped when things happen fast. Nice smile, but not much substance or wit in interviews.
You're completely missing the point of what we're trying to tell you. Bachmann is NOT running a good faith campaign, as Rollins' hiring demonstrates. She is allowing herself to be used as a political weapon against Sarah Palin by the GOP elites (GOP-E) in DC, which detests both her and Palin.
The plan was and is to goad her into a Presidential run through her staff so that she can bleed support away from Palin and clear the way for a GOP-E-approved candidate like Romney or Pawlenty.
Despite what they may have promised Bachmann behind closed doors over the Christmas break, they have no intention of ever backing her, and will most assuredly yank the rug from out under her as soon as she does her damage against Palin.
In the leadership's eyes, it will be like killing two troublesome birds with one stone, gratifyingly hurled by one of the birds itself in a fit of political suicide.
Well Palin fans obviously are afraid of her otherwise they wouldn’t be trashing her as someone with no accomplishments, no party leadership (wasn’t aware that was a requirement to be president) and now apparently a RINO. As I’ve said before let them both run and may the best woman win.
Bachmann’s appeal is that she has both Tea Party credibility and “Washington experience”
LOLOLOLOOL!!!!!!!
Washington experience? Christ how thick are you? That’s a vote winner how?
Get a clue doofus - even if you don’t back Palin then go and support Cain. He makes more sense than donkey teeth.
Correct.
She is a willing pawn. I hope she enjoys being made a fool of.
I’ve thought all along that Bachmann fancied herself a Sarah Palin, because she has very difficult reelections and Sarah came to MN to raise money for her.
MN is too blue a state to ever elect Bachmann Governor or US Senator, so I think after she failed to get a leadership position in the House, she decided to try to be *THE SARAH PALIN ‘12* by running in ‘12 with the hope of being selected the VP.
Hiring Rollins, the anti-Palin, RINO, back-stabbing democrat schmoozer, doesn’t set well with anyone in the know, and supposedly Bachmann is in the know.
I really have to leave for a little while, but I’ll be “bach”...”man”....lol.
How about you supply some evidence, some quotes, video, etc. of Michele Bachmann being in the tank for either Romney or Pawlenty.
Laura Ingraham made an impassioned plea last week for people to get off the sidelines and get in if they think they can take on Obama. Perhaps it's as simple as Bachmann thinking she can beat Obama and hiring someone who she thinks will help her win Iowa.
Funny.
“trashing her as someone with no accomplishments”
Well fine - list the accomplishments then.
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