Dogged by Gingrich and Cain, Michele Bachmann Needs Home Run at Tampa Debate Tonight

Faltering in the national polls, Iowa straw poll winner Michele Bachmann needs a home run in Monday night's CNN/Tea party Express Debate in Tampa.

Bachmann hopes to parlay the tea party support she enjoyed during a recent swing through Florida into a telegenic victory tonight. The stakes got higher over the weekend when Tim Pawlenty endorsed Mitt Romney.

Pawlenty received significant early endorsements from state GOP leaders before he dropped out of the race last month. Romney has the most extensive campaign network, dating from his run in 2008.

Bachmann, pressured by the entry of Texas Gov. Rick Perry, is even feeling heat from Newt Gingrich and Herman Cain, who have been polling in the single digits.

Now lagging in single digits herself, Bachmann is up against the wall tonight in Tampa. Having raised her profile in the expectations game by winning the Iowa straw poll last month, she now risks going the way of her fellow Minnesotan Pawlenty -- out.