Michele Bachmann: Sarah Palin Not A 'Competitor' (VIDEO)

WASHINGTON — Rep. Michele Bachmann, who is considering a run for the Republican presidential nomination, said she thinks the race can accommodate both her and Sarah Palin during an appearance on ABC's "Good Morning America" on Tuesday.

Both women are favorites of the Tea Party movement. But Bachmann says she doesn't compare herself to Palin -- she compares herself to President Barack Obama.

Bachmann says there's "enough room for a lot of contenders" to challenge Obama in 2012.

The Minnesota Republican asserted that she considers Palin, the GOP's 2008 vice presidential candidate, a "friend," not a "competitor." But she said that she has no problem running against a friend.

"I compare myself to Barack Obama, not any other of the Republican candidates," she explained, according to The Hill. Later in the segment, she added, "And I think there's no question that in 2012, the Republicans will field a wide bench of contenders against President Obama. And I think the comparisons will be very favorable."

Bachmann spoke to ABC from New Hampshire, which holds the GOP's first presidential primary next year. She is expected to announce her campaign decision in Iowa next month.

The AP reported last week:

Bachman repeated her plan to announce her presidential plans next month in Waterloo, Iowa, where she was born and lived as a child before moving to neighboring Minnesota. But it sounded as though her mind was largely made up.

"I've had this calling and tugging on my heart that this is the right thing to do," Bachmann said during a taping of the public television program, "Iowa Press."

"People want something new and different and that's one thing I've established with my voting record," the conservative hopeful said.

WATCH:

Comments

[Kyu Wolf]

05:18 AM on 06/02/2011

They claim the eyes are the gateway to the soul. Looking into her eyes I see only emptiness.

They say you can judge a person by the company they keep. Sarah Palin is her friend.

She is not even an official candidate yet, and already she is unable to answer a yes or no question. All of her answers are delayed, like she was waiting for the someone to whisper the answers into her ear piece. And out of things to be bringing to the table with her experience, she thought irresponsible family breeding practices was worth mentioning?

[asteinberg101]

06:08 PM on 06/01/2011

I bettcha' ole Todd Palin would give old Michele Bachmann a quit shot in the caboose!

[RecreationalPilot]

05:25 PM on 06/01/2011

Are you going to debate the kid or hide from her?

[ShanaJuly]

07:46 AM on 06/01/2011

Does that mean she is going to create her own "gangsta" administration...this woman is about as pathetic as the griz...zly woman...

[cobobs]

07:37 AM on 06/01/2011

How does GOP come up with these....let me be nice.

[carljr]

07:32 AM on 06/01/2011

OK....to put it simply ---- you're no Barack Obama.

[BCubedReg]

06:08 AM on 06/01/2011

Smart move Bachmann.

Tie your hitch to a proven winner (Obama) as opposed to a political question mark. Palin has shown herself to be politically unreliable (resigned as Govenor of Alaska afgter only 2 1/2 years) as well politcally defeated against the current offiice holder of the Presidency. Even though Palin was not at the top of the republican ticket in 2008... she will always be saddled with the loss.

Smart move Bachmann...

Though it doesn't mean I want to see you anywhere near the oval office unless you are on the tour.

[mamapower]

02:15 AM on 06/01/2011

I compare her to what I flushed earlier this evening.

[Jack Daniels Esq]

04:56 AM on 06/01/2011

OMFG - lol - thats real cold, man - lol

[FL TallMan]

02:13 AM on 06/01/2011

Is it just me or does it look like Bachmann just crawled out from under Palin's short bus? She looks kinda rough, don'tcha think?

[GraniteSkyline]

06:47 AM on 06/01/2011

The stress of running for an unattainable office is just going to make it worse.

[chinchilla]

02:12 AM on 06/01/2011

She compares herself to President Obama?

Wow, who knew Bachmann was a bi-racial man who attended law school.

[PHM]

08:36 AM on 06/01/2011

Wrong question. Who knew she had a sane bone in her "born on another planet" body?

[cvbnm67]

01:38 AM on 06/01/2011

I compare you to my cat "Marcie" and she did not even attend fake law school like Oral Roberts.

[noygdb]

01:19 AM on 06/01/2011

eh..what voting record??? three years and not one outstanding piece of legislation from her

[Jack Daniels Esq]

04:58 AM on 06/01/2011

Thats real good ... enough with the new legislation already

[budanatr]

01:06 AM on 06/01/2011

Yes, Michelle, you just try to compare yourself to Barack Obama. The differences will be clear and you will look like a mental midget and mental case.

[Mr Crabs]

01:01 AM on 06/01/2011

When she's a senior lecturer of Constitutional law at a major university, I might respect her viewpoints on legislature a little more. But then again, you gotta take baby steps. How about learning where the Battles of Lexington and Concord took place? That's a good start.

[wwelbes]

12:29 AM on 06/01/2011

So she says while filing her nails into points.