Michele Bachmann Vows To Stay In GOP Race Ahead Of Iowa Caucuses 2012 Despite Setbacks

DES MOINES, Iowa -- Vowing to press ahead through the Iowa caucuses, Republican Michele Bachmann dismissed the notion Thursday that her presidential campaign was in disarray – even as she lost another staff member.

Her comments came a day after a key supporter fled her campaign and she had to fend off other calls to leave the race for the GOP nomination. On Thursday, Wes Enos said he was leaving his job as Bachmann's political director, saying: "I am no longer serving in an official capacity with the campaign." He said he doesn't plan to work for or support another candidate and still plans to caucus for Bachmann.

Despite all that, the Minnesota congresswoman called her campaign organization "strong" and said her headquarters had received 150 calls of support after her Iowa campaign chairman, state Sen. Kent Sorenson, resigned and switched his allegiance to rival Ron Paul on Wednesday.

Sorenson made the switch a few hours after appearing with Bachmann. She alleges he was offered "a lot of money" to change sides, an inducement she said Sorenson had told her about during a telephone conversation on Tuesday.

"I know what I was told in that conversation," Bachmann said.

The Paul campaign and Sorenson denied that money factored into the decision or that any such offer was made.

Sorenson told CNN on Thursday that he wanted to back a candidate who is in a position to keep Mitt Romney from winning Iowa. "It's unfortunate they're resorting to these type of tactics," Sorenson said. "But the fact of the matter is she wasn't going to win Iowa."

 

 

Comments

[rayoflightinaseaoffog]

06:29 PM on 12/31/2011

I am not a big politcal campaign type person, in fact I have a tendency to turn off tv political commentary and when politicians ask me for my vote I grill them on their management and decision making skills but in the last few days 2 people I know in MN have asked if the recent media info on the racist tone in Ron Paul's newletters was part of the decision for Enos' defection. I don't know, I could see it if it was for $ but if it was for another reason the only recent change in the Paul campaign info was the racism in his history. Michelle has been a 3rd rate candidate for months so if Enos was going to jump ship wouldn't he have done it before this recent publicity?

[Mike Dar]

11:26 AM on 12/30/2011

She will stay in the race because someone will have to 'pay' her for her endorsement...at the 'right' time.

[Dan Garfinkel]

09:58 AM on 12/30/2011

She's won anyway. I'm convinced that the reason the GOP candidates now have such extreme litmus test positions is because she railed about them and showed how many tens of millions of votes she could bring into the party.

She has a new career as a speaker and go-to for crucial endorsements. She won't go away, so I can't foresee ever voting Republican - that word is now tainted with her poisonous beliefs.

[jdshaw]

08:51 AM on 12/30/2011

Every circus needs clowns.

[modelaford]

06:35 AM on 12/30/2011

Give it up lady! I don't understand why she wants to go through this public humiliation. She is going to come in next to last (Huntsman will be last but he's not even campaigning in Iowa and is focusing on NH) and she will be at the bottom of the list of candidates who actually campaigned in the state. And this was the state where she won the Iowa straw poll summer and she was born in Iowa too.

This will make her loss that much more embarrassing. She must still be trying to raise money for her campaign until it's official...that she lost..big time. She'll use the money to help her with her congressional race next year. Speaking of that...wonder if there are any strong democrats or independents who are running against her in her congressional district. She could lose that seat too. She has missed over 200 votes and has not been doing her job representing her district for a very long time.

[thinkingwomanmillstone]

08:28 AM on 12/30/2011

She's on a mission from God and isn't thinking rationally...if she were rational, she would never have entered the race to begin with.

[mightytonkatruc]

09:34 AM on 12/30/2011

... just like Jake and Elwood.

[lizipoo]

03:32 AM on 12/30/2011

The Obamas better keep the back door of the WH locked. Apparently this little gal intends to take up residence no matter how many people tell her no. It's almost sad to see someone so clueless, so out of touch with reality plying this losing campaign. Shades of Palin without the screechy voice.

[Guscat]

06:25 AM on 12/30/2011

Unlike the half term governor Bachmann looks like she showers everyday.

[Pleasedontdelete]

02:37 AM on 12/30/2011

"Michele Bachmann Vows To Stay In GOP Race Ahead Of Iowa Caucuses 2012 Despite Setbacks (because it sure sells a ton of books)"!

[pmoschetta]

04:57 AM on 12/30/2011

Her book sales haven't been what she has hoped for

[hankashley]

11:02 AM on 12/30/2011

Saw it on a Barnes & Noble 50% off table yesterday.

[94613]

02:17 AM on 12/30/2011

Atoms Fur Peace, ProClaims Mrs MilliSevert of Political Toxicity. I've Lead Jacketted My Campaign Cilo Againist any Thought of a Cold Campaign ShutDown. "Those LaunchCodes", She Glowers Menacingly, Are For Me!

[RitaS]

01:49 AM on 12/30/2011

Bachmann, SO burnt toast....

[stephan67]

01:41 AM on 12/30/2011

Bachmann,just accept your defeat and go away.

[MalibuConservative]

02:40 PM on 12/30/2011

You Dems worship Hillary Clinton, Nancy Pelosii, and Maxine Waters, and they look like hags, and totally nuts! What's so wrong with Sarah Palin and Michelle Bachmann, at least they look decent and KNOW WHAT THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT!

[gaydood]

09:01 AM on 12/31/2011

how rude

[dgtrust]

01:35 AM on 12/30/2011

Seems she will be the only one answering the phone calls coming to campaign office soon

[zanzig]

05:30 AM on 12/30/2011

I'm sure Marcus will help out, and what about those 23 foster kids?

[dgtrust]

11:32 AM on 12/30/2011

Nah, Marcus won't take any calls from straight and for foster kids Michele should changed the child labor laws first.
Your fan # 346

[StillAmused]

12:39 AM on 12/30/2011

You stay put and keep screeching.

We're COUNTING on it!

[Rogie21]

12:16 AM on 12/30/2011

In desperation, Mishugunah Michele hires an aide who shares his philosophy on honesty and accuracy: Tommy Flanagan (aka Jon Lovitz). He's her kind of guy. www.youtube.com/watch?v=pkYNBwCEeH4

But nothing will help. In the words of Lilly von Shtupp: Michele, you're finished. Fertig! Verfallen! Verlumpt! Verblunget! Verkackt!"

[Fedelia]

02:29 AM on 12/30/2011

god I MISS Madeline Kahn!

[zanzig]

05:35 AM on 12/30/2011

Oh I can hear her voice!

[sorrytobeakansan]

11:55 PM on 12/29/2011

Which means that she is planning on quitting pretty quick.

[Kandis SupaStar Hill]

11:34 PM on 12/29/2011

There's a difference between determination and becoming the nat that flies around the fruit bowl annoying the hell out of everyone in the summer. Clearly she does not know the difference, for the love of all things sane just drop out!