Slow sales for Michele Bachmann action figure

U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann and her action figure
U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann is seen here in a file photo from her victory party next to an image of an action figure modeled after her created by the company Herobuilders.
Image courtesy of Herobuilders and MPR File photo

If U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann's popularity was judged by the sales of her new action figure, she'd be in trouble.

The Connecticut-based toy company HeroBuilders has sold only 50 copies of the unlicensed action figure since its release on Sept. 25.

Bachmann, a Republican, represents Minnesota's 6th Congressional District and has been a high-profile critic of President Obama and the Democratic Party.

"I'll tell you this, she's no Sarah Palin," said Emil Vicale, CEO of HeroBuilders.

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He said the company's action figure depicting Republican Sarah Palin, former governor of Alaska and former vice presidential candidate, sold 10,000 units within 24 hours of its debut.

The $34.95 Bachmann action figure also shares the catalog with former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, (a $149.95 limited edition figure), Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad (sporting a t-shirt that reads "Let them eat yellow cake"), Joe the Plumber (with his own custom-made crow bar), and a talking Joe Wilson, among others.

Vicale said he had hoped the business-suit-clad Bachmann figure would draw buyers from around the nation, but so far about 90 percent of the sales have come from Minnesota.

Despite the slow sales, the company plans to keep the Bachmann figures in stock.

"I'm sure they'll all be bought," Vicale said. "I'm not even worried about it."

He said the company hasn't ruled out making more action figures based on the controversial congresswoman, particularly if she makes a presidential run.

"Things change here on a daily basis," he said. "So it's very complex to say what we're going to be doing."