2012 elections

Bachmann To Embark On Announcement Tour Next Week In Key States

Eric Kleefeld | June 22, 2011, 4:41PM

Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN)

Michele Bachmann's campaign has now announced the dates for their formal kickoff tour next week -- with her making stops in three of the big early primary and caucus states.

Bachmann made the interesting move of announcing her much-expected candidacy during last week's debate -- though of course, her very participation in the debate was itself an act of running for president. However, that act did seem to be a departure from her previous statements that she would announce her decision in Waterloo, Iowa, the town where she was born.

Now, her campaign announced via press release, she will be making it up with a formal kickoff event on Monday at 10 a.m. CT, in Waterloo -- an event that the campaign press couldn't escape if they wanted to.

Then on Tuesday, she will hold a 9 a.m. ET backyard event at a private residence in Raymond, New Hampshire, and then visit Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, with an event at 5:30 p.m. ET. She will then make a full-day swing through South Carolina on Wednesday, with stops in Charleston, Lexington, Greenville, and Rock Hill.

Sarah Palin

Palin Apologizes To Romney For Upstaging His Prez Announcement In NH (VIDEO)

Jon Terbush | June 6, 2011, 10:37AM

Sarah Palin offered an apology - of sorts - to Mitt Romney on Sunday, saying she didn't mean to "step on anybody's toes" when her bus tour rolled through New Hampshire on the same day that Romney formally announced his presidential campaign.

"I apologize if I stepped on any of that PR that Mitt Romney needed or wanted that day," Palin said in an interview with Fox News' Chris Wallace. "I do sincerely apologize. We didn't mean to step on anybody's toes."

Palin's summer vacation/historical site bus tour swung into the Granite State for a clambake last Thursday, an event that took place just a few miles from the farm where Romney was holding his big campaign rollout. When asked about the timing last week, Palin told CNN it was merely happenstance.

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New Hampshire Primary

New Hampshire's Biggest Paper Puts Romney Announcement Below Palin Tour

Eric Kleefeld | June 3, 2011, 10:32AM

If Mitt Romney was looking for huge headlines from his Thursday campaign launch in New Hampshire...well, he might have reason to be a bit disappointed.

Friday's front page of the New Hampshire Union Leader, the state's largest newspaper, has Romney's launch seriously overshadowed by two other events: The death of former Gov. Walter Peterson (R) -- and Sarah Palin's tour of the state. The latter was given the banner headline just above the fold, "Palin Hits The Seacoast," plus a large photo of Palin and her daughter Piper.

By comparison, Romney's kickoff was reduced to a mere inset photo within text of the Palin piece, and a small headline, "Romney Announces."

The caption text: "INSIDE: Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney announces his presidential candidacy Thursday in Stratham. Story, Page A3."

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2012 Presidential Primaries

Bachmann To Join GOP Debate In New Hampshire On June 13

Eric Kleefeld | June 2, 2011, 6:23PM

Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN)

Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN) has yet to officially launch an increasingly expected presidential campaign -- but she is now set to take part in a Republican candidates' debate in New Hampshire, the surest sign yet that she is getting in.

Bachmann aide Andy Parrish, who is leaving as her Capitol Hill chief of staff to take an unspecified new position with her (it is believed that he will be her campaign manager) told the Associated Press that Bachmann will be on stage at the June 13 debate in Manchester, New Hampshire.

This debate would be Bachmann's first presidential debate -- and also put her on stage alongside her fellow Minnesotan, former Gov. Tim Pawlenty, among the other candidates.

Bachmann has said she will announce her plans this month in Waterloo, Iowa, the town where she was born. It is hard to imagine a politician putting together a big rally in Iowa, only to deliver a speech announcing that they were not running.

Pres '12

Palin: New Hampshire Visit At Same Time As Romney Announcement 'Coincidental'

Eric Kleefeld | June 2, 2011, 10:25AM

Former Gov. Sarah Palin (R-AK) and former Gov. Mitt Romney (R-MA)

Sarah Palin's bus tour is making an appearance today in New Hampshire -- the same day that Mitt Romney is officially announcing his presidential campaign in the state, and in fact she'll only be a few minutes' travel away from him. But as she says, it's just a coincidence.

CNN reports:

"I think that's exciting for him, that's great for him," Palin told reporters at her Boston hotel before touring historical sites along the city's Freedom Trail. "It's coincidental that we are in the same territory at the same time, but more power to Mitt as he mounts his campaign and best of luck to him."

News leaked late yesterday that Palin is organizing a clambake for Thursday evening along the New Hampshire seacoast, just minutes from the Stratham farm where Romney plans to officially announce his second presidential bid.