Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.) praises "A Prarie Home Companion" host Garrison Keillor in her new memoir, Core of Conviction, even though the public radio host has made no secret of his dislike for her.
"His politics are very different from mine, but I love his gentle, knowing humor. Keillor understands Minnesota, from Lutherans to lutefisk, and his ability to squeeze laughs out of serious-minded midwesterners makes him a legend," the Republican presidential candidate wrote in her memoir, according to Politico. The two both attended Anoka High School.
Bachmann praised Keillor in 2009. "He and I are on opposite sides of our political beliefs. But I adore him," she said. She added that her family listens to "A Prarie Home Companion" every Saturday and "we just laugh."
Keillor has not returned Bachmann's praise. Her 2010 opponent, Democrat Tarryl Clark, disseminated a letter from the liberal radio host endorsing Clark and saying Bachmann was "embarrassing to me and a great many Minnesotans." He added, "Instead of working to solve problems, Bachmann talks about us as a 'nation of slaves' and about the need for smaller government even though she knows better - the biggest part of government is military spending, Social Security, and Medicare. Which would she do away with?"
Keillor reacted to Bachmann's praise in Politico: "As an old Democrat, I wish that Michelle's presidential campaign were doing better than it is."
