CNN Exclusive: Bachmann to form exploratory committee in June, possibly earlier
Washington (CNN) - CNN has exclusively learned that Rep. Michele Bachmann will form a presidential exploratory committee. The Minnesota Republican plans to file papers for the committee in early June, with an announcement likely around that same time.
But a source close to the congresswoman said that Bachmann could form the exploratory committee even earlier than June so that she could participate in early Republican presidential debates.
"She's been telling everyone early summer," the source told CNN regarding Bachmann's planned June filing and announcement. But the source said that nothing is static.
"If you [debate sponsors] come to us and say, 'To be in our debates, you have to have an exploratory committee,' then we'll say, 'Okay, fine...I'll go file the forms.'"
Three GOP presidential primary debates are planned before and during early June: The first one on May 2 at the Ronald Reagan Library in Simi Valley, California and another on May 5 in South Carolina. CNN plans a GOP presidential primary debate in New Hampshire in early June.
Meanwhile, CNN has also learned that Iowa Republican state Sen. Kent Sorenson will likely be hired to be Bachmann's political director for the state - and that Bachmann aides hope to have a complete team together for Iowa by this weekend.
Sorenson is a prominent Tea Party figure in Iowa and holds sway with evangelicals in the state. He has publicly said he will support Bachmann if she mounts a presidential bid.
The three-term congresswoman and Tea Party favorite hopes to also have political teams in place - very soon - in New Hampshire, home to the first-in-the-nation presidential primary, and South Carolina, host of the first presidential primary in the South.
"I could have state directors in all those states within a week," Bachmann Chief of Staff Andy Parrish said.
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Bachmann does not look presidential; she looks like a moron.
This should push "Cris" right over the edge!!
I wonder if George Will thinks Michelle Bachmann could run a lemonade stand.
Oh, congrats. Your chances went from 1% to 1.1% with this action.
Who in their right mind would vote for this person? Does the GOP not have anyone left in their ranks with an intellect? It's beginning to get a little scary.
I hope she goes for it and wins the nomination.
wow, what a slap in the face. Can the GOP really not attract better candidates? Seriously?
You know, I think my cat wants to form an "exploratory committee" in June, too. Hey, don't laugh. My cat would make a better president than Bachmann.
I can only hope this woman runs for president and draws the evangelical zealot vote. People like this have no business in politics and while she obviously has a "constitutional right" to be voted in as a representative, I think we can all agree her experience and intellect are lacking tremendously. How anyone could justify voting for someone of this quality is beyond me and hopefully beyond most Americans. If it isn't then we're seriously in trouble. (Then again this country did vote George W. Bush into office for 8 years so I suppose anything is possible)
Oh God, please let it be true!! Obama in a land slide!
Palin / Bachmann 2012
Divas of Doom Tour !
Let the circus begin! This is just perfect, the idiot of the Tea Bagging/Republican party announces her explotatory committe for president. Just when it was begining to look like there would be no lonny toons female candidate for 2012, we have the looniest of them all running. She make sarah palin look normal.
She is another embarrassment to the American people.
I am embarrassed and somewhat ashamed to be an American right now. To think that someone as obnoxious and insane as Michele Bachmann could run for PRESIDENT of the USA???..... it`s embarrassing and shameful.
Maybe an exploratory committee could try to find her brain.
There's obviously been a mistake here. Bachman thought you said they were forming a Pez committee, because otherwise, she's either flipped her lid or eating some of that funny candy again.