Michele Bachmann's Fundraising Totaled $13.2 Million

A month after Rep. Michele Bachmann's (R-Minn) successful and incredibly expensive reelection victory over Democratic challenger Tarryl Clark, the conservative darling's fundraising numbers have been crunched, revealing an astonishing total of $13.2 million raised in the 2010 cycle.

According to the Minneapolis Star Tribune, $12.8 million of the total was channeled to Bachmann's coffers by individual donations. After spending more than $11 million in her race to retake her 6th District Congressional seat, Bachmann is left with a substantial $1.97 million on hand.

Bachmann used her proven fundraising prowess as a selling point for her recently unsuccessful bid for a leadership position in the House, which will be controlled by Republicans next session.

The Star Tribune reports that Bachmann collected a whopping $2.3 million in the final three weeks of the election cycle, building on an earlier three-month period in which she raised an unprecedented $5.4 million. Together, this propelled her to an impressive money-making milestone, taking in more money than House Minority Leader John Boehner.

According to the New York Times, Bachmann also spent more than $2.5 million in the last two weeks before the election, inundating airwaves and mailboxes with campaign materials.

Her defeated opponent, Tarryl Clark, sent an email out to supporters Thursday, asking them for fundraising help on behalf of fellow Minnesota Democrat Rep. Keith Ellison. Some have seen this as a sign that she may be steeling herself for a rematch against Bachmann in 2012.

Comments

[Cliffe]

09:08 PM on 12/04/2010

A person with the lack of intelligence in a leadership position like Bachmann would be tragic for our country. We need people in government that have the welfare of all the people in mind and not just the upper 2 per cent.

[polishlogician]

05:29 PM on 12/04/2010

...never realized how tiny her eyebrows were, she reminds me of an aunt who would pluck them, then pencil them in....

[edwcorey]

03:29 PM on 12/04/2010

Is it crazy or what to raise and spend that kind of money for a $174,000 a year job? There must be a heck of a pile under that table.

[DoremusJessup]

03:27 PM on 12/04/2010

Tax the Rich!

[whatisrightisright]

03:08 PM on 12/04/2010

'$12.8 million of the total was channeled to Bachmann's coffers by individual donations.'

[dvtaz]

02:31 PM on 12/04/2010

What's the big deal? This is nothing compared to the funds the
unions and George Soros has given to the democrats and the liberal agenda.

[irishgramm]

02:09 PM on 12/04/2010

I cannot believe how true "irresponsible crazy" is financially suported in this country. She is a terribly divisive, replusive, lying person in comments she makes and conspiracies she imagines and one has to questions WHO are the people and what are their movtives behind this financial support for someone like Bachmann. Why do I always come back to it being always about certain people enriching themselves and aquiring more power to do as they please.......Greed is going to destroy this country.....................

[mixpiklix]

11:26 AM on 12/04/2010

The tea party is a party of passion not a party who's ideals are backed by facts. And unless there is a cause and effect thought put to cuts in spending and not throwing in all of the other problems with the tea party they will hae a hard time gaing the highest office . Of course spending has to be cut . Jan brewer decided to institute death panels right off the bat. while supporting ta breaks for the rich. Can you imagine a society where the poor and middle class jump for joy when all of heir futures nd kids and crandkids futures are given away to wealthy people who don't need it. Even if your passions run high you need to set down an think about what you are doing

[1differentdrummer]

07:57 AM on 12/04/2010

The Repub party has become pitiful.

[SPQR1052]

04:00 AM on 12/04/2010

Correct me if I am wrong but isn't  Michelle's seat on the block to be deleted. I read somewhere  last year that Minnesota is loosing a congressional district because of the new census  and that her district would be erased..

[livesimply]

02:27 AM on 12/04/2010

Odd. Very odd.

[SolarArray]

02:21 AM on 12/04/2010

It's scary that a person of her limited intelligence has any influence over anyone. Yikes.

[Don in CT]

11:26 PM on 12/03/2010

Evidently entertainment value is valuable. So much for governing. Sound familiar? Maybe she, too will quit halfway through her term. Just one, big conveyor belt of crazy out there.

[christianmama4change]

10:19 PM on 12/03/2010

she's a talented con woman - i don't pity the foolish GOPers who give to her, they do deserve to be swindled for thinking she should be in politics.

[VietVet67]

09:32 PM on 12/03/2010

Did she threaten to slit her wrists if she didn't get any money?