Citing Email, Michele Bachmann and Ron Paul Accuse CBS of 'Bias' at Debate

Four GOP presidential candidates accused CBS News of bias at Saturday's debate in South Carolina. A network memo suggested as much.

In the email hours before the debate, CBS News political analyst John Dickerson wrote:

"OK, let's keep it loose though since [Rep. Michele Bachmann] is not going to get many questions during the debate and shes nearly off the charts in the hopes of getting someone else."

Sure enough, the bulk of the questions went to Mitt Romney, Herman Cain and the latest flavor of the week (again), Newt Gringrich

After the debate, which was focused on foreign policy, Bachmann spokeswoman Alice Stewart said CBS News was guilty of a bias.

"She received substantially fewer questions than the other candidates and she wasnt allowed any follow-ups," Stewart told ABC News.

Other candidates complained as well.

Rep. Ron Paul's spokesman Jesse Benton accused CBS of disgraceful actions that stemmed from an arrogance in thinking that they can choose the next president.

Congressman Paul was only allocated 90 seconds of speaking in one televised hour, Benton told ABC.

During the debate itself, Jon Huntsman said, Gets a little lonely over here in Siberia. To which former Sen. Rick Santorum quipped, Tell me about it.

Addressing the email, CBS News spokeswoman Sonya McNair called it "a candid exchange about the reality of the circumstances -- Bachmann remains at 4 percent in the polls.