Sorenson speaks about departure from Bachmann campaign
This just in from Sen. Kent Sorenson, Rep. Michele Bachmann's former Iowa chair, who defected to the Ron Paul campaign last night.
Bachmann said yesterday that the move was financially motivated, which Sorenson said are "ridiculous allegations."
Here's the rest of his statement.
The Ron Paul 2012 Presidential campaign released the following statement from Iowa State Sen. Kent Sorenson.
Last night Sen. Sorenson defected to the Ron Paul camp, endorsing the 12-term Congressman from Texas before a crowd of more than 600 Paul supporters and media. Moments before his endorsement and in past months, Sen. Sorenson had served as Iowa Chairman for U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann's campaign for the presidency.
In the minutes that followed the endorsement, Rep. Bachmann made baseless claims suggesting the Ron Paul 2012 Presidential campaign provided Sen. Sorenson with a financial incentive to join the Paul camp - and, that this was a deciding factor in the senator's decision to endorse Paul.
Below please find comments from Iowa State Sen. Kent Sorenson:
"I have to say, I've been saddened by the way Congresswoman Bachmann's campaign has decided to handle my decision to endorse Ron Paul for President of the United States.
"Like many folks here in Iowa and throughout the country, I simply came to the realization that Ron Paul is the candidate for true pro-life, pro-gun, pro-limited government conservatives.
"The recent smears from the media and the national political establishment motivated me to rush to Congressman Paul's aid because he did the same for me in both of my races for the Iowa General Assembly.
"As for the ridiculous allegations that Congresswoman Bachmann and her surrogates have made, I was never offered money from the Ron Paul campaign or anyone associated with them and certainly would never accept any.
"Financial reports come out in just days which will prove what I'm saying is true.
"Even Congresswoman Bachmann's political director issued a statement defending my character. Since then, he's been fired by the Bachmann campaign for daring to tell the truth.
"Sadly, the values I most appreciated in Congresswoman Bachmann appear to have gone out the window in a last-minute effort to salvage what's left of her campaign.
"On the other hand, Congressman Ron Paul's track record of standing up for constitutional principles and traditional values is unmatched.
"He's proven he is the one candidate who can take on defeat both Mitt Romney and Barack Obama."
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