Rollins to steer likely Bachmann White House bid
Washington (CNN) - Rep. Michele Bachmann is looking to a campaign veteran to run her likely bid for the Republican presidential nomination.
CNN has confirmed that the congresswoman from Minnesota has signed GOP strategist Ed Rollins to run her campaign, if as expected, she announces her candidacy later this month.
"If she runs, I'll help her," Rollins tells CNN, adding that it's "one more round for the old war horse."
Rollins was campaign manager for President Ronald Reagan's 1984 re-election landslide over former Vice President Walter Mondale. Rollins, a guest on numerous CNN programs over the years, is also more recently known for running former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee's bid for the 2008 GOP presidential nomination. Huckabee went from being a longshot candidate to winning the Iowa caucuses before ultimately losing to eventual nominee Sen. John McCain of Arizona.
"We'll try and duplicate what Huckabee did in Iowa. It's a good act to follow," says Rollins.
Bachmann has all but declared her candidacy. She recently told reporters and supporters in Iowa that "when we make that all-important announcement – which will happen in the month of June – that announcement. I am pleased to tell you tonight, will be made in Iowa. And I will also tell you that announcement will be made in the city where I was born, in Waterloo."
Bachmann is also taking part in next Monday's CNN/WMUR/New Hampshire Union Leader GOP presidential debate in New Hampshire.
Word of Rollins role in a Bachmann campaign was first reported by CBS.
- CNN's Executive Director, Contributors and Audience, Lucy Spiegel contributed to this report
- Follow Paul Steinhauser on Twitter: @psteinhausercnn
- On Monday, June 13, CNN will host the first New Hampshire Republican Presidential Debate, live from Manchester, NH at 8 p.m. ET. Follow all the issues and campaign news leading up to the debate on CNNPolitics.com and @cnnpolitics on Twitter.
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I used to have a great deal of respect for the considerate tone of Rollins. I can't believe that he had to stoop this low!
How many pieces of silver did it take??
He is back after 27 years symbolism is alive and well. Said enough.
oh my God Ed I thought you were a much wiser man than this!!!
"Waterloo, I was defeated you won the war ..."
Bye-bye Bachman.
Just lost all respect for this man. Anyone that could support this lunitic for the GOP nomination deserves the pounding he will take from the pundits. Bad, bad move. It's a good thing he is now fighting a losing battle.
O my gravy...I cannot believe that Mr Rollins would align himself with someone like Bachman. I heard her speak on the mall in DC and this lady seems like a nutt. Wow.....
Wow. I just lost all respect for Ed Rollins.
Shame on you, Ed. That woman is a nut and you know it! I expected much better from you.
LOL. Wasn't Rollins the crook who tried to bribe minsters in New Jersey elections to swing the election for Whitman? Bachmann and Rollins deserve each other. One sleazeball to another.
Rollins is showing poor judgment.
If he does help her, he'll be there for a good long time. She doesn't know a whole lot like her mold, Palin. If she makes a lot of mistakes, it will soil his reputation.
Ed's got his head on straight. By supporting a wingnut like Bachmann, he will de-rail the GOP primaries.
Hmmm...can't wait to see Palin crush the one man wrecking crew of Obama. He is a complete disaster, is over his head and is completely against the everyday American.
He was and is a 100% media hyped and elected candidate who has done great harm to the US. Can't fool the American people this time, ground worm could beat Obama.
Ms. Bachmann can hire anybody she wants. No one can change the fact that she is utterly unqualified to do anything at all positive for America !
Ed, what were you thinking?!?!?
I had a good bit of respect for Mr. Rollins as a moderate republican when he was commentator for CNN. I can't understand what made him agree to work for the right wing nut Bachmann. She has no chance of winning the GOP nomination even if Mr. Rollins tries the strategy that worked during Reagan's re-election. He lost my respect.
If Bachman were smart she would stay out of the race with the rest of the smart people. The only way to win the nomination in the current Republican Party is to "be the beast" that the extreme hard right wing wants to see. The smart people know that a beast would have no appeal to the Independents and Moderates, the people who determine the winners and losers in general elections. The smart people know that painting yourself as a beast is like turning into a vampire, you cannot undo it and be nomal human being ever again. Be the beast.