Michele Bachmann: Bob Vander Plaats, Christian Conservative Leader, Asked Me To Drop Out

Bachmann Asked To Drop Out Of Race

Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.) on Wednesday confirmed that Bob Vander Plaats, CEO of Christian conservative group The Family Leader, had called her earlier to ask her to end her presidential campaign.

On Tuesday, Vander Plaats announced a personal endorsement for former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum. Politico later reported that Vander Plaats had contacted Bachmann over the weekend to encourage her to drop out of the race and join him in backing Santorum.

"I did receive a phone call," Bachmann said Wednesday on Fox News. "I've been polling above the Ricks, and so there would be absolutely no reason for me to drop out. Plus, I'm the only one that actually won anything in this state. Plus, I have so much support here, I have the former president of the Family Leader who also has come out and endorsed me, I have the head of Concerned Women of America in Iowa who's come out to support me, and I have over a hundred Evangelical pastors that have come out in public support."

Bachmann continued, sounding confident that she could still carry out a strong performance in Iowa and showing few signs that she would adhere to Vander Plaats' request. The congresswoman has, after all, effectively vowed to bet it all on Iowa with hopes that she can pull out a win in the state's Jan. 3 caucuses.

Earlier this month, she embarked on a mission to visit all 99 Iowa counties ahead of the early-January contest, hoping to revive the momentum that led her to a straw poll victory there in August.

Santorum is also staking his campaign's fate on his Iowa operation. He's fed his White House bid on a steady diet of retail politics across the Hawkeye State and has already visited all 99 of its counties.

Despite their efforts, neither candidate really managed to catch fire. The latest polling numbers in Iowa show the duo solidly trailing the frontrunning trio of Rep. Ron Paul (R-Texas), former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney and former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich.

(Video below via Mediaite)

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