Bachmann confirms presidential candidacy

[scandal 951]

So, who's actually in at this point?

Romney

Pawlenty

Bachmann

Cain

Gingrich

Paul

Santorum

Is this seriously the field Republicans want to go with?

The only 2 on that list that in any way are credible general election contenders are Romney and Pawlenty. The rest are simply not for real. At the moment, my money would have to be on Pawlenty as the only guy with real executive experience who can pass muster with the idealogues and get through Iowa and New Hampshire, and then be taken seriously in the general campaign.

Oh, by the way, regarding Bachmann - God told her to run

Bachmann confirms presidential candidacy

June 14, 2011 12:05 a.m. EDT

(CNN) -- U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann ended any doubt that she is running for president, saying during Monday night's CNN GOP presidential debate that she has filed for the 2012 race.

"I filed ... my paperwork to seek the office of the presidency of the United States today, and I'll very soon be making my formal announcement," Bachmann said shortly after the start of the debate in Manchester, New Hampshire.

Bachmann, of Minnesota, became the seventh Republican -- and the only woman -- to confirm her candidacy. She was the only one of the debate's seven participants who hadn't formally declared before the start of Monday's event at Saint Anselm College's Sullivan Arena.

Her campaign also posted a YouTube video in which she announced she was running. "This is the first day of taking our country back," Bachmann said in the video.

A third-term congresswoman, Bachmann is a favorite of the conservative Tea Party movement, founder of the 50-member House Tea Party Caucus and fiery critic of the Obama administration.

Bachmann and her husband, Marcus, are born-again Christians, and it was God, she says, who encouraged her to run for higher office. She has since become a champion of conservative values, including the vision that government should be limited to only what is in the Constitution.

The Waterloo, Iowa, native grew up as a Democrat, but she switched parties and supported Ronald Reagan in 1980, in part because of her disagreement with Democrats' positions on abortion rights.

Before her political career, she was a tax litigation attorney for the U.S. Treasury Department in Minnesota after earning a law degree at Oral Roberts University and studying tax law at the College of William and Mary. She was elected to the Minnesota Senate in 2000 and won her seat in Congress six years later.

She had all but declared her presidential candidacy before Monday, signing GOP strategist Ed Rollins to run her then-unofficial campaign and saying that she would make a presidential announcement this month in Waterloo.

Bachmann has drawn comparisons to former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, in no small part because both are female Republicans who have endeared themselves to social conservatives and Tea Party activists. Rollins may have tried to separate Bachmann from the 2008 GOP vice presidential nominee when he criticized Palin earlier this month, telling Fox News that Palin "has not been serious over the last couple of years" and telling Politico that a Bachmann campaign would be "so much more substantive."

Bachmann said last month that being a native Iowan will give her a natural advantage against her rivals in Iowa, which will hold the first contest in the Republican presidential nominating contest.

A CNN/Opinion Research Corp. survey released Monday showed Bachmann had support of 4% of Republicans and independents who lean toward the GOP.

Romney was first at 24%. Palin came in second at 20%, followed by former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani at 12%. Neither Palin nor Giuliani have committed to a campaign but neither have ruled it out, either.

Former Godfather's Pizza CEO and radio talk show host Herman Cain and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich were tied at 10%, with Rep. Ron Paul of Texas, who is making his third run for the White House, at 7%.

Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty was at 3%, and former Sen. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania at 1%. Also at 1% was former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman.

All but Palin, Giuliani and Huntsman participated in Monday night's debate. Huntsman told CNN Chief Political Correspondent Candy Crowley that he'll announce his candidacy later this month.

[Bad_Daddy 2,209]

This should be fun. The press is going to tear her apart for the fact she's a complete tard, and she should make for some good threads on here also.

[Sofiyya 1,687]

All those years I wasted as a Republican for it to come down to this.

[TBoneTX 46,123]

Let's not count out Bachmann so fast, no man.

[웃 910]

All those years I wasted as a Republican for it to come down to this.

Would you prefer another Bob Dole, John McCain, or George W? The 2012 list is sadly one of the best in decades!!!

Oh, by the way, regarding Bachmann - God told her to run

I haven't paid any attention to Bachmann so far. Seen her a couple times for brief 2 minute clips on news channels and she seemed ok. But I was watching the debate last night and I can't stand her / didn't like what I heard. She is way too spiritual/religious for me. She is asked about her stances on abortion and and the spotlight is beamed on her...She is staring out into the openness and talks about God giving us life and God giving us death. She sounds crazy.

Edited June 14, 2011 by Lord Infamous

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

I haven't paid any attention to Bachmann so far. Seen her a couple times for brief 2 minute clips on news channels and she seemed ok. But I was watching the debate last night and I can't stand her / didn't like what I heard. She is way too spiritual/religious for me. She is asked about her stances on abortion and and the spotlight is beamed on her...She is staring out into the openness and talks about God giving us life and God giving us death. She sounds crazy.

She is nuts. It'll be entertaining.

[Nina~ 431]

Too bad, Jon Huntsman wasn't there at the debate. I would have loved to hear more from him.. So far he seems like someone I would vote for, but maybe it's just because he hasn't opened his mouth yet.

[ready4ONE 5,400]

A Bachman campaign would be "more substantive" than Palin????

A bowl of meal worms running would be more substantive... Than either.

[Ban Hammer 13,551]

All those years I wasted as a Republican for it to come down to this.

it's like they field a team of losers intentionally!

[The Dude 206]

So, who's actually in at this point?

Romney

Pawlenty

Bachmann

Cain

Gingrich

Paul

Santorum

Is this seriously the field Republicans want to go with?

The only 2 on that list that in any way are credible general election contenders are Romney and Pawlenty. The rest are simply not for real. At the moment, my money would have to be on Pawlenty as the only guy with real executive experience who can pass muster with the idealogues and get through Iowa and New Hampshire, and then be taken seriously in the general campaign.

Oh, by the way, regarding Bachmann - God told her to run

Thanks Scandal, now all my banners on VJ look like this:

I would turn on a add/script blocker, but it's a work computer. sigh.

Let's not count out Bachmann so fast, no man.

If you don't understand politics, then don't post absurd nonsense like this. You might as well have just done your insipid "si, man" act.

[mawilson 2,133]

Don't forget Rick Perry - a cowboy governor from Texas. Wait, have we been there before?

[sly_wolf 199]

Oh, by the way, regarding Bachmann - God told her to run

People that can see God or hear voices from God really scare the ####### out of me.

[Sofiyya 1,687]

it's like they field a team of losers intentionally!

[scandal 951]

Thanks Scandal, now all my banners on VJ look like this:

Glad to be of service!

Don't forget Rick Perry - a cowboy governor from Texas. Wait, have we been there before?

Perry is running? That's news to me. I listed the 7 who are officially in the race. That includes Gingrich who is 'officially' in even though he's more out than some of the 'out' guys like Huntsman, Perry or Guiliani.

[mawilson 2,133]

Perry is running? That's news to me. I listed the 7 who are officially in the race.

Well you asked, "is this seriously the field Republicans want to go with?" and the answer is "no".

I think Perry and others will run because they actually have a shot next to Cain, Bachmann and Santorum.