Bachmann’s bus tour and ramped-up campaign
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Sixth district Republican Congresswoman Michele Bachmann invited reporters along for a bus tour to businesses in her district. It was part of her newly ramped-up campaign efforts, which include an ad launched yesterday attacking DFL opponent Tarryl Clark.
Today's events began at Dorothy Ann Bakery in Woodbury, where Bachmann was shown around the ovens and dough preparation areas. The bakery's treats later showed up on her campaign bus, where she served them to reporters.
Reporter access to Bachmann was otherwise limited. She took questions for about seven minutes of the roughly half-hour long drive to the next destination. Here are a few snippets of the comments she offered.
On the topic of her political action committee, MICHELEPAC:
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The primaries are essentially over, but I'm hoping to be able to help a few candidates out with funds. It's all about trying to bring in like voices, constitutional conservatives who want to roll back spending, tax increases, and create more of a job friendly environment
On the question of what she's done to help the sixth district:
I've been a very strong voice in Washington, D.C. against this out of control spending, against the tax increases, and against deficit spending. I worked very hard on the health care bill to make sure we wouldn't have the government takeover of health care. People across the sixth tell me, "Thank you for the work that you did on that health care bill. Thank you for the work you've done to fight against the government takeover of cap and trade."
On the topic of her opponent, Tarryl Clark:
She has a career of voting for tax increases and spending increase. They tend to go hand in hand. She's voted for big taxing and big spending, and ultimately that means job killing along the way. Also, she fits right in line with the Pelosi-Obama agenda. But I think people overwhelmingly are rejecting the Pelosi-Obama agenda.
Clark's camp issued a press release yesterday countering similar statements made in Bachmann's ad. The ad features a character named "Jim the Election Guy," who took aim at Tarryl Clark's support of tax increases.
Clark's campaign defended its candidate, saying Clark "voted to hold down taxes on 95% of working Minnesotans, including reducing property taxes."
Bachmann's press secretary, Sergio Gor, says Bachmann herself will appear in some future ads. He says the campaign is in "active discussions" with Clark's people about potential debates.
He also says there will be more bus tours in the future. Clark's camp says it's working on details of its own upcoming tour of small businesses.
