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Minnesota U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann formally entered the 2012 GOP nomination battle this morning, kicking off her presidential campaign from her birthplace of Waterloo, IA.

Bachmann talked about her Iowa roots and called for the return of the American dream.  She pledged to bring the voice of regular Americans to the White House if she makes it that far.

"I want my candidacy for the Presidency of the United States to stand for a moment when we the people stand, once again, for  independence from a government that has gotten too big and spends too much and has taken away too much of our liberties," Bachmann said.

Bachmann called for reduced federal government spending.

"Our problems, quite frankly, are today," she said. "Our problems are not tomorrow. We can't continue to rack up debt and put it on the backs of the next generation. We can't afford the unconstitutional healthcare law that will cost us too much and deliver so little."

After speaking for about 20 minutes Bachmann shook hands and posed for pictures.  Her audience seemed thrilled with her speech and candidacy.

Floyd Junker, 60, of Waterloo was overcome with emotion, holding back tears as he talked about Bachmann.

"She's a  straight talker. She's one of us," he said. "I just love what she's saying. It means so much to me. I'm so touched. It just seems we've been so disappointed for so many years and lied to and cheated and I'd like to think the system is straight and fair and that we'd have a chance to get a real American in there."

Bachmann will also be in New Hampshire and in South Carolina over the next two days as part of her campaign kickoff.

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Mark Zdechlik

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Bachmann formally enters the race for president

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