TPMDC

Bachmann: My SOTU Response Is Not ‘Competition’ With Paul Ryan

Reps. Michele Bachmann (R-MN) and Paul Ryan (R-WI)

Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN) attracted a lot of attention when it was announced last week that she will deliver her own response to the State of the Union address. But as she says, she is not competing with the official Republican response that will be delivered by Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI).

Bachmann was picked by the Tea Party Express group — compared to Ryan, who was picked by the GOP leadership.

The Star Tribune reports:

But speaking to reporters Monday, she distanced herself from Beltway rumblings that she was challenging the GOP establishment by addressing the Tea Party Express. Rep. Paul Ryan is offering the official Republican response.

“I’m just reacting to what President Obama is saying, to the Tea Party Express group,” Bachmann said at the State Capitol. “It’s not meant to be in competition in any way. Paul Ryan is the official GOP response and he’ll do a wonderful job.”

Top Stories From TPM

Graham: GOP Is ‘In A Demographic Death Spiral’

Wow

Snowden: It's An Honor To Be Called A Traitor By Dick Cheney

The Tragic Fall of the White Race in America

Scott Walker Nixes Appointment Of Student Who Signed Recall Petition

McConnell To Reid: If You Go Nuclear On Nominations, I’ll Go Nuclear On Everything When I’m Majority Leader

Disqus Conversations

Click here to read the Disqus Commenting FAQ.

Editor & Publisher

Josh Marshall

Managing Editor

David Kurtz

Associate Editor

Nick Martin

Assistant Editor

Igor Bobic

Reporters

Brian Beutler

Sahil Kapur

Eric Lach

Hunter Walker

Frontpage Editor

Zoë Schlanger

News Writers

Tom Kludt

Video Editor

Michael Lester

General Manager & General Counsel

Millet Israeli

VP, Ad Sales

Bruce Ellerstein

Associate Publisher

Kyle Leighton

Assistant To The Publisher

Joe Ragazzo

Designer/Developer

Matthew Wozniak

Design Associate

Christopher O’Driscoll