Bachmann celebrates Iowa poll win
U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann returned to her birthplace of Waterloo, Iowa Sunday evening to celebrate her first-place showing in the Ames Straw Poll over the weekend.
Bachmann, who represents Minnesota's 6th Congressional District, took the stage at a county Republican gathering right after Texas Gov. Rick Perry spoke. She waved a copy of the local newspaper featuring her picture on the front page, with the story about her straw poll victory.
"I woke up to a wonderful newspaper this morning. I don't know if you saw it," she said to the crowd. "This is my copy of the Waterloo Courier today. I hope you enjoyed it. I know I did."
Bachmann said her experience running a small business gives her the qualifications to tackle the nation's economic troubles.
Create a More Connected Minnesota
MPR News is your trusted resource for the news you need. With your support, MPR News brings accessible, courageous journalism and authentic conversation to everyone - free of paywalls and barriers. Your gift makes a difference.
Bachmann said she knows about "starting a business from scratch and building it up so that we can actually offer jobs to people."
She also stressed her appeal among evangelical voters, who helped her win the straw poll. She said that "without social conservatives, it will be very difficult to beat Barack Obama in 2012."
Bachmann said she had a cordial conversation with former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty Sunday following Pawlenty's announcement that he was ending his presidential campaign after placing a distant third in the straw poll.
Bachmann says her campaign strategy will not change with Palwenty out and Perry in. Bachmann heads to South Carolina later this week for a string of campaign appearances.
(Associated Press reporter Thomas Beaumont contributed to this report)