Is “Tea Party” Republican Rep. Michele Bachmann’s presidential campaign in trouble?
Well, yesterday her top two campaign operatives announced they were leaving her campaign, which typically isn’t a sign of a campaign that’s firing on all cylinders.
First came news that Bachmann’s campaign manager, Ed Rollins, was “stepping back” from the day-to-day management of Bachmann’s presidential campaign, citing his health and the rigors of a campaign.
“I wish I was 40 years old, but I’m not,” he told POLITICO. “I’m 68 years old, I had a stroke a year and a half ago. I’m worn out.”
It’s worth noting that Rollins is no stranger to presidential campaigns, having worked on Mike Huckabee’s presidential campaign in 2007, so he must have known about the rigors of a presidential campaign prior to agreeing to serve as Bachmann’s campaign manager.
In related news, Bachmann’s deputy campaign manager David Polyansky announced he is leaving Bachmann’s campaign, and while he didn’t cite a specific reason for the split, Maggie Haberman of Politico reported that a source indicated Polyansky left the campaign because of “strategic differences on the path forward” with Bachmann.
Despite winning the Ames Straw Poll last month, Bachmann’s campaign has been struggling to gain traction in the wake of Texas Governor Rick Perry announcing his candidacy for president, due no doubt to Perry’s strong Tea Party appeal, given his extremely far-right views (Texas secession, anyone?).
I will cry serious tears when Michele Bachman drops out, but the other Repub candidates will spend several days deciding if they want to court her for her followers, unsure if they want to stand next to her, as would be required of an endorsement.
This implies Michele Bachmann was ever a serious candidate outside of the D.C. media. She was not, but I’m sure she’s got a nice paycheck ahead of her from some right-wing propganda outlet.
I think Bachmann was a serious candidate so long as she was the only serious “Tea Party” candidate. The minute Rick Perry got into the race I knew Bachmann was doomed.
From what I hear, Perry’s campaign is about to implode as well. The fires in his home state have left serious misgivings about him, not to mention the condition of the education system in his state and the number of teachers that have been laid off.
When the jobs report comes out at the end of September, beginning of October, it will reflect the number of teachers that have been laid off in this country. Something unprecendented. Teachers have not been reflected in the job report prior to this. AND when the Super Committee is through, there will be more than 1 million laid off public employees off the payrolls. What do you think that will do to the economy?