Capitol View: September 27, 2011 Archive

Bachmann: "Sure we can turn things around."

Posted at 9:12 AM on September 27, 2011 by Catharine Richert
Filed under: Campaign 2012, Michele Bachmann

In an appearance on the O'Reilly Factor, Rep. Michele Bachmann says it's not too late for her campaign.

"Sure we can turn things around," she said after the show's host, Bill O'Reilly, asked her whether she's worried about recent polling.

She conceded that her campaign had taken a hit after Texas Gov. Rick Perry entered the race. But his debate performance is making voters think twice, she said.

"I won the Iowa straw poll, and we had a wonderful response with that," Bachmann said. "And then of course Gov. Perry came into the race and there was an assumption that he was going to walk away with the nomination. But now there is a re-look at that. People are looking after the debate and they are saying that they think now they need to look for their champion."

Recent polls aren't so optimistic. Two new polls - one from Zogby and one from CNN - both have Bachmann with 4 percent of the Republican vote. Back in June, the Zogby survey had Bachmann snagging between 20 and 30 percent of the vote.

Bachmann's take on the polls?

"It takes time sometimes for these numbers to catch up," she told O'Reilly.

Bernie Sanders speaking at Founders Day Dinner

Posted at 2:05 PM on September 27, 2011 by Tom Scheck
Filed under: Campaign 2012, U.S. House, U.S. Senate

Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders will be the featured speaker at the DFL Party's Founders Day Dinner. The event is an annual fundraiser for the party. Sanders, a self-described Democratic socialist, was first elected to the U.S. Senate in 2006. He served in the U.S. House from 1991-2007.

Sanders is best known as a vocal critic of the bank bailout known as TARP (which he voted against).. He also voted against the confirmation of Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner and held a "mini filibuster" last December on a bill that would extend the Bush era tax cuts.

The fundraiser will be held at DFL headquarters on October 29th.

Bachmann campaign manager: Bachmann "has to win Iowa"

Posted at 5:58 PM on September 27, 2011 by Tom Scheck
Filed under: Campaign 2012, Michele Bachmann

The campaign manager for Rep. Michele Bachmann's presidential bid released a powerpoint presentation today that details how Bachmann can win the GOP nomination.

In the presentation, campaign manager Keith Nahigian made it clear that Bachmann has to do well in the Iowa Caucuses.

"She has to win Iowa and move on from there," Nahigian said in the 4 minute video that showed a graphic that said Iowa is a "must win state."

Nahigian emphasized Bachmann's Iowa Straw poll victory, her Iowa roots and her ability to organize supporters in the state.

"By winning Iowa she will be on a path to victory," Nahigian said.

Nahigian also said the campaign won't put as strong a focus on New Hampshire - the first primary state. The team won't "dominate their effort" like they intend to do in Iowa.

Bachmann, who has also campaigned heavily in South Carolina, also appears to be putting her focus on that state. Nahigian said the campaign will work to unite Tea Party members, social conservatives and Republicans who focus on national security.

"If she wins in Iowa, does well in New Hampshrire and wins in South Carolina, she's on a very good path to win nomination," Nahigian said.

The video also takes an unspoken shot at Texas Gov. Rick Perry and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney by saying this is not the year for GOP voters to choose a candidate WHO doesn't strictly adhere to conservative principles. Bachmann has been suggesting that she's the candidate who doesn't "compromise her principles." She also acknowledged last night that they have to "turn things around."

The web video comes at a critical time for Bachmann's campaign. She's been sinking in national opinion polls and the 3rd Quarter fundraising wraps up on Friday. The campaign focused a lot of time and money to win the Iowa Straw poll in August (I'm guessing Randy Travis doesn't come cheap). AP suggests that Bachmann's recent videos look amateurish and may be a result of the campaign's heavy spending at the straw poll.

The video detailing Bachmann's strategy to win the nomination may also be an attempt to revise expectations. The campaign's decision to say that she has to "win Iowa" in such public fashion may be a signal that she won't be spending as much time campaigning (or spending money) in other states. The state could be the Waterloo for the candidate who was born in the Iowa city with the same name.