ABC News: Bachmann mulling White House run
ABC News is reporting that GOP Rep. Michele Bachmann is seriously considering a run for the White House in 2012. The report says Bachmann will travel to Iowa this month for multiple meetings with Republican party leaders to discuss a presidential bid. She is also scheduled to speak on January 21st to an Iowans for Tax Relief PAC fundraiser in Des Moines.
Bachmann has made several trips to Iowa in the past year and has been ramping up her national profile. She has been mentioned as a possible challenger to DFL Sen. Amy Klobuchar in 2012 but recent polling shows that it would be an uphill climb for Bachmann to win that seat. 51 percent of those polled saying they have an unfavorable opinion of her.
Bachmann's toughest challenge will be to show that she's a serious candidate who can appeal to middle of the road, independent minded voters. But she is a force among rank and file Republicans. Bachmann receives some of the loudest ovations at GOP events in Minnesota and nationally.
Bachmann has also proven that she can raise money - a key test for any presidential hopeful. Bachmann, who represents Minnesota's 6th Congressional District, shattered state fundraising records for a U.S. House seat during last year's election.
One key question to consider is how a possible Bachmann bid could harm Tim Pawlenty's possible run for the White House. Pawlenty is releasing his book next week and has been assembling a team to make a possible run. How would a Bachmann bid undermine those efforts?
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