(CNN) – Tea-Party favorite and Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann dropped out of the race for House Republican conference chair Wednesday night, avoiding what could have been a divisive bid against Texas Rep. Jeb Hensarling for the No. 3 spot in the House GOP leadership.
Rep. Bachmann, the chairwoman of the Tea Party caucus who had hoped to use her popularity in the influential movement to gain a leadership post, ultimately voiced her support for establishment-backed Hensarling Wednesday in a statement.
"Jeb Hensarling has my enthusiastic support for his candidacy to become Republican House Conference Chair," Bachmann said in a statement. "Jeb has demonstrated his commitment to limited government, reduced spending and lower taxes and he will be a strong voice for the Tea Party's call for these values."
Hensarling accepted the endorsement and praised Bachmann.
"Michele Bachmann is a committed movement conservative whose effective voice played an important role in America's decision to trust House Republicans once again," Hensarling said in a statement. "She is a dear friend, and I am humbled to earn her support. I look forward to her energetic leadership in a united House Republican Conference during the 112th Congress."
The House Republican Conference serves as the organizational body for all GOP House members, and is responsible for electing party leaders at the beginning of each Congress.
Bachmann and Hensarling have been jockeying for support within the party in recent days, though Hensarling seemed to garner more widespread support from his Republican colleagues. Prominent GOP leaders including House Minority Whip Rep, Eric Cantor of Virginia, and current conference chair, Indiana Rep. Mike Pence both endorsed Hensarling shortly after he announced his intention to seek the chairmanship last week.
One of the most outspoken critics of President Obama and the Democratic Party, Bachmann is a popular figure among the party's most faithful. But it remains unclear how much further her popularity extends beyond the most conservative wing of the GOP.
– CNN's Deirdre Walsh and Evan Glass contributed to this report
From CNN Politics
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It was either that or admit that Obama's trip didn't cost $2 billion, and she chose the former.
She's another Loon.
Bachmann is not qualified to do anything but trash talk!!!
now theses jerks are complaining about the presidents asian trip . For get that he has secures 59,000 new jobs anver 10 billion in monies. the repos arwe still the party of NO
Just about all the republicans keep making odd, stupid and scary statements. Where did GOP get these republicans? GOP Where are the JOBS?
About time! Finally, a smart decision from one of the GOP's dimmest bulbs. Now, if the idiots in Minnesota would quit voting for this woman, we'd all be a lot better off!
No leadership skills, loud mouthed, farm subsidy taker! if the media did its part this bragger should be looking for a new job!!
"Michele bachmann is a committed lunatic"
That's too bad. I was hoping Michele Bachmann would bring down the Republicans. I guess they aren't that stupid.
In that photo, she's got the same crazy eyes as Pelosi.
Bachmann is a lunatic. Enough said.
That woman is as crazy as a loon.
She's a nutbag.
She looks like more of witch than O'Donnell. Yes she appears to be in trance, Matthews had it right.
She must have finally found out the job didn't actually pay $200M a day...
Michelle is a dumb twit and quitter, just like Sarah Palin. Sad she got reelected, but she won't in 2012.
bachmann, odonnell, palin, brewer...
at least the right still respects the value of a ged...
She knew she'd never win, or she would have stayed
And losers like her ... hate losing
Women like her and Palin are a disgrace, to the gains of progressive women all over the world
Rep. Bachmann is to be congratulated for realizing and accepting the fact that she is not the best person for this position.
Its getting interesting how all these republican women are being dropped by the wayside in favor of the repugs good ole boys. i wonder how Demint is controlling this stuff. Anyways now she can get back to wrecking whats left of Minnesota ya hey!
This woman is a whack job!
Baachmann was told to shut up or she will go to the waste side just like all the other republicans that have tried to oppose them
in the past remember that this a dictatorship that is only run by a few and the rest are becks little puppets
the gop men this that a woman is beneath them that why they would never vote your dump ass to lead anything. That why they hate Nancy they know that she is smarter than all of them.
Good. Bachmann is theocrat and a lunatic. The sooner the people of her district come to their senses and dump her, the better everyone will be.
This is the smartest thing I have ever seen her do. Good move Michelle!