Michele Bachmann Plans Iowa Trip; Is a 2012 Bid on Tap?

Rep. Michele Bachmann, R-Minn., addresses a Tea party rally at Freedom Plaza in Washington, Thursday, April 15, 2010.

/ AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin

Republican Rep. Michele Bachmann, a Tea Party favorite, may be considering a 2012 presidential bid - a possibility that her chief of staff confirms is not "off the table," according to ABC News.

In recent weeks, speculation swirled around the possibility that the Minnesota congresswoman might challenge the state's Democratic Senator, Amy Klobuchar, for her seat in 2012.

Now, amid reports that Bachmann has set a number of public appearances and private meetings in Iowa - a key primary state and popular first stop for prospective presidential candidates - it appears that the conservative Republican may have set her sights on higher ground.

Bachmann's office confirmed to CBS News that she is scheduled to deliver the keynote speech at a Jan. 21 fundraiser for the Iowans for Tax Relief PAC, and ABC reports that she has set up meetings with GOP political operatives around the state to hash out the possibility of a presidential bid.

Tickets to the fundraiser cost $25 per person or $40 per couple, but guests can also upgrade to "watchdog" ($250) or honorary "host" status ($1,000). The Iowans for Tax Relief PAC, which will benefit from the donations, works "to elect pro-taxpayer Iowa Legislators," as the invitation states.

Bachmann's Jan. 21 trip to Iowa will be her third in eight months, according to ABC, and she has also put in time in Michigan - another significant early-primary state.

Andy Parrish, Bachmann's chief of staff, would not confirm whether or not the congresswoman would be making additional visits to Iowa in the coming months, but he told Minnesota's St. Cloud Times that Bachmann would reveal further information about a possible decision "in due time."

Bachmann raised eye-popping $13.2 million in the 2010 election cycle. She also started the Tea Party Caucus in Congress last year.

[tafhdyd]

This story was put under the political heading by mistake. It should be under the entertainment heading.

[forsanity1]

The Republican primaries will be hysterical.... meaning funny and crazy!

When the negatives start flying, centrists and liberals will be able to sit back and watch the show with a certain sense of just rewards. All those names we have been called...? I'm guessing they will be tame comparatively.

Buy popcorn shares.

[hakori]

Twenty years ago people like her would never have been elected to Congress, and the though of a presidential bid would have been laughed at. The right has been wildly successful in their quest to turn Americans from critical thinkers who know we have a vested interest in the common good into a bunch of frightened chicken littles who have been scared into presenting corporations the keys to the congress. Good job GOP, and good job to all those who have fallen for their brand of snake oil. The right loves to talk about America-hating liberals who want to destroy this country, while the whole time they've been exporting our industrial base, slashing taxes and increasing spending. Are you conservatives just going to stand by while they slash you social security, medicare, your social

[jxknowles]

Wow, that will be an incredible waste of cash.

[wdrussell1]

Every far right extremists thinks they can be president.

Michio Kaku/Jodi Foster in 2012

[johndevinejr]

Michelle Bachman for President? Up until now I was in favor of a Palin/Glenn Beck ticket. But I am switching allegience right NOW!.

Bachman / O'Donnell! Perfect representatives of republican honesty and intelligence.

[Cattzen]

Remember W? don't count anyone out from leading the rational deficient.

[andysheepleton]

Michele Bachmann..
Sarah Palin II (The resurrection of stupid)

[featherknife]

I smell a Palin = Bachman ticket in the works. Kind of smells like the canneries in San Diego used to.

[magik1369]

Only in the USA can a nit wit with an 80 IQ ascend to the US Senate and then to the Presidency. Michelle Bachman is about as dense, ditzy, and stupid as they come. Michelle Bachman speaks volumes about the people that elected her. Namely, they they completely lack intelligence and discernment. We should send all the Bachmans and Palins packing by instituting mandatory IQ and EQ and Psychological testing for anyone that desires to run for office. Every job in the US civil service requires testing and credential except for the highest positions in the land! A mentally ill and unstable narcissist like Palin or Bachman can deceive and delude an entire electorate and be elected based on charisma or how many anger buttons they can push and not on actual competence. In a government for the people and by the people, you would think that Americans would have smartened up by now and would demand that only the best, most qualified, most intelligent, and most experienced candidates are allowed to run for Congress or POTUS.

[brian_norwood]

All I can say is that with the loonies running the GOP asylum, the 2012 primaries should be real good entertainment.

Can't wait.