Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN), who reportedly plans to launch an exploratory committee for a presidential campaign, could potentially get a strong following among Tea Party activists. But she appears to have some trouble with another demographic: Her former staffers, some of whom are backing fellow Minnesotan, former Gov. Tim Pawlenty.
Minnesota Independent reports:
Three of Rep. Michele Bachmann’s former staffers are backing her fellow Minnesotan and presumptive competitor for the 2012 Republican nomination, Tim Pawlenty. Ron Carey, who served as Bachmann’s chief of staff in 2010; Gina Countryman, Bachmann’s 2010 congressional campaign manager; and Tim Gould, who served as Bachmann’s Constituent Services Officer in 2010 are all vocally supporting Pawlenty for 2012.
Carey, a former state GOP chairman who served as Bachmann’s fifth chief of staff — and only in the course of her second term, as well — has previously declared that she is not electable and not qualified to be president. Last week, when reports emerged that Bachmann planned to form an exploratory committee, he stated his support for Pawlenty.
Eric Kleefeld
Eric Kleefeld joined TPM as an intern for the final months of the 2006 midterm elections, and then kept showing up for work. His other interests include guitars, old comic books and the politics of various English-speaking countries.