On Wednesday, after a sixth place showing in the Iowa caucus, U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann of Minnesota ended her campaign for the Republican presidential nomination.
The people of Iowa have spoken, Bachmann said. I have decided to stand aside.
Bachmann spoke to the media in West Des Moines on Wednesday morning and called for the repeal of the federal health-care law that President Barack Obama backed as well as the financial industry regulations bill authored by Sen. Christopher Dodd, D-Conn., and Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass.
2012 is our last chance and our only chance to repeal Obamacare and Dodd-Frank, Bachmann said before announcing that she was bowing out of the race. I will continue fighting to prevent the presidents agenda of socialism.
Despite high hopes to score well in Iowa, Bachmann flopped badly in Tuesday nights caucus, taking 5 percent and placing a distant sixth place.
Stressing her roots in the Hawkeye State, Bachmann, a favorite of the tea party movement, scored a big win in August when she won the Iowa Republican straw poll in Ames. While she experienced a boost in the polls in Iowa and, to a lesser extent, at the national level, Bachmann quickly deflated as conservatives embraced other candidates including Gov. Rick Perry of Texas, businessman Herman Cain and former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich.
Bachmann showed limited strength outside of Iowa, placing last in the Presidency 5 straw poll held by the Republican Party of Florida in Orlando in September. Her momentum dried up at the national level -- and cut into her support in Iowa.
On Tuesday, Bachmann garnered 6,073 votes -- barely more than the 4,823 votes she took at the straw poll back in August.
Bachmann sounded upbeat at the end of her bid to become the first sitting member of the U.S. House of Representatives to be elected to the White House since James Garfield did it back in 1880.
I have no regrets, none whatsoever, Bachmann told the media.
The other Republican presidential hopefuls quickly weighed in to praise Bachmann.
Michele Bachmann brought an energetic and passionate voice to this race, and she should be proud of the ambitious solutions she offered to reduce our national debt and rebuild our economy, said former Gov. Jon Huntsman of Utah in a statement. I wish Michele and her family nothing but the best, and know she will continue to be a powerful force in the fight to defeat Barack Obama and restore Americas greatness."
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or at (850) 727-0859.
