Michele Bachmann Finally Airs Ad Ahead Of Iowa Caucus 2012

DES MOINES, Iowa — Michele Bachmann is reminding Republican caucus voters of her Iowa roots and stiff stands in Washington in her first and only TV ad aired in the run-up to Tuesday's caucuses.

The commercial began airing Monday, a day before Iowa opens the GOP nominating season. The ad twice mentions Bachmann's Iowa heritage and calls her "one of our own."

The ad also flashes a picture of former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher alongside Bachmann, with text saying that the Minnesota congresswoman is "America's 'Iron Lady.'"

Bachmann was born in Waterloo but later moved with her family to Minnesota, where she was elected to Congress in 2006.

She is the last of six candidates competing for a caucus win to run TV ads in a state now saturated with them. It's a reflection of a campaign running on financial fumes.

The New York Times reports that the campaign is only spending $7,600 to air the ad 14 times over the next two days on WHO, the local NBC affiliate.

Bachmann is fighting to avoid a last-place finish Tuesday night.