Rollins: Bachmann will be strong candidate in Iowa
(CNN) - The campaign veteran who has signed up to run Rep. Michele Bachmann's expected bid for the Republican presidential nomination says the congresswoman from Minnesota would be a formidable candidate in the Iowa caucuses.
One day after longtime GOP strategist Ed Rollins confirmed to CNN that he would steer Bachmann's campaign if she announces her candidacy, which is expected later this month, Rollins said Bachmann "has a tremendous opportunity to follow the pattern of Mike Huckabee, whose campaign I was involved in four years ago. She'll be a very strong candidate in Iowa. She was born in Iowa. She was the first Republican woman to ever represent the neighboring state of Minnesota. She's got a tremendous opportunity to go into the religious right, which is a strong constituency."
Iowa's caucuses traditionally kick off the presidential primary and caucus calendar.
Rollins, who made his comments on CNN's "American Morning," was the 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 long shot candidate to winning the Iowa caucuses before ultimately losing the nomination to Sen. John McCain of Arizona.
Rollins told CNN on Monday that "we'll try and duplicate what Huckabee did in Iowa. It's a good act to follow."
Rollins also says that Bachmann won't have a problem when it comes to fundraising, adding that "she's got a gigantic list" of supporters and contributors.
Asked about Bachmann's past controversial comments, Rollins said the congresswoman would "have a good team around her and we'll basically make sure that everything is 100 percent fact checked."
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.
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- 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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He soliciting himself for a campaign job with somebody, so that he can have the credentials to return to being a cable political pundit after the election.
As a former Iowan, I do hope that Bachman gains no traction there. Iowans are smarter than that, I hope.
Don't forget she's also a hateful woman, not very smart and cannot answwer a straight question
Wise move. Now she'll get the Black vote for sure, Ed will see to that.
Ed, if you are looking for a job I think KFC is looking for someone to wear the white suit.
It's all about the packaging!
But when it gets right down to it the woman is a "nut case". The middle will only let her be a WH chamber maid.
Michele is going to quietly build a base in Iowa and when the Palin circus arrives there later this year, there will be a "No Vacancy" sign out to greet her.
rollins is saying what is needed to earn a check, that's all, hell will freeze over, before bachman is nominated
Maybe Rollins can run as her Vice President.
Michele Bachmann won't be a strong Candidate any were. She don't have a chance In hell to win.
Ms. Bachmann and The Facts do not play well together. Remember the business about Obama spending $200 million a day in India? Or Nancy Pelosi's $100K bar tab? Or that we don't have to disclose information to census-takers? Or that the Swine Flu was a Carter administration problem? Or her blatant, fear-mongering falsehoods about Health Care Reforrm?
She couches her persona in the worn-out Us vs. Them, intellectually insulting rhetoric that she shares with Sarah Palin and Rick Santorum.
I'll pass.
Rep. Michele Bachmann is the epitome of the big pharma drugged out starry eyed right wing republican wacko. A total nut, befitting a tea party person. Go ahead run Bachmann being nuts, Palin shooting deer from a helicopter and Mitt Mormon. These candidates will all be firmly rejected on the coasts.
He's hitched his wagon to a FALLING STAR. Can anybody say crash and burn? AAAAAAGAIN
He's almosy as bad as Pat Buchanan. I switch channels when either of them show up on TV.