Bachmann accuses Perry camp of 'stealth' political attack
(CNN) - Michele Bachmann accused Rick Perry's presidential campaign Friday of a "stealth" political attack - a charge the Texas governor's campaign flat out denied.
"If Gov. Perry has something to say to me, he can come out to the debates and say it," Bachmann said in an interview with CNN. "But this is egg on the face unfortunately for the Perry campaign."
At issue: tea party sponsor American Majority's urging for Bachmann to drop out of the presidential race. On Thursday, the group's executive director Matt Robbins told CNN that Bachmann's White House bid "is not a serious presidential campaign." His comments coincided with a blog statement from American Majority president Ned Ryun, who outlined reasons why "it's time for Michele Bachmann to go."
Among other claims, Ryun wrote that Bachmann's emphasis on social issues was damaging the tea party movement.
In an interview with CNN's "The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer," Bachmann fired back, targeting the Texas governor.
"Well, of course, we found out that this is really a misstep on the part of the Perry campaign because these are Perry supporters that came out," Bachmann told CNN. "This was a clumsy move."
Bachmann continued: "This was meant to be a stealth move to make it look like this was tea party."
"It certainly isn't a blow to my campaign because I've had nonstop support coming out of the woodwork from tea partiers all across the country ever since this came out," she said.
When asked whether Bachmann had evidence that the Perry campaign was involved in American Majority's statements, Bachmann replied, "No."
"This is something that people have told us," Bachmann said.
Both American Majority and Perry's campaign deny they were working together.
"We learned about this from news reports today. We were not aware or involved in the group's action," Perry campaign communications director Ray Sullivan said in a statement to CNN.
The group's president called Bachmann's assertion "bizarre."
"I have no connection with the Perry campaign," Ryun told CNN, although he did publicly express support for Perry's tax plan revealed earlier this week.
Ryun also said it's "wildly illegal" for his nonprofit group to endorse a candidate.
"American Majority does not endorse. I'm not working for or with any campaign," Ryun said.
"It goes back to let's focus on the substance of what this whole debate was about to begin with. Where are your substantive ideas to actually advance the ideas of the tea party movement?" he added.
–Follow Shannon Travis on Twitter: @ShanTravisCNN
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"I've had nonstop support coming out of the woodwork". Well, mostly they've been crawling out from under rocks, not the woodwork. Fortunately, though, there aren't enough of them to turn Bachmann into an actual candidate either way.
She could not verify that the vaccine cause "retardation." It was only something she's heard. Now she is accusing others of sabotage as her campaign loses ground and focus? Funny, but this woman reminds me of nothing more that a catty, high school gossip. How she got this far is Minnesota's shame. Electing a wrestler to be governor was an entertaining protest vote. But that the rest of the country now has to bear this sick, sick woman and her foolishness is only rude.
so many things to call out here. I don't know where to start. HAhahahahahahahahah breath..HAhahahahahahahah
I agree with Michele Bachman when she says it isn't a blow to her campaign. This campaign has been dead for weeks now. She should pack it in.
infighting and whinning, what she needs is something to wrap her self around and for her to get out and quit splitting the vote.
I sure don't feel I could trust Perry.
Oh. She's paranoid as well. Just what this country needs...another paranoid, crazy leader like Bush Jr. Why doesn't this woman just quit and move to the Middle East where her policies are already in force? She'll fit right in there, and we won't have to see that ugly mug anymore.
She sure makes a lot of assumptions because (she heard from people) like the woman whose daughter became mentally retarded after taking that HPV shot. Funny that woman never reappeared. Her campaign is over. Even the tea party crazies are pulling away. You have nothing to offer but Obamacare You have nt solutions to any problems facing Americans especially when it comes to jobs.When pollsters would rather have Newt Gingrich than her, she has to know it is over. She will never be President our country is not that ignorant.
MB really needs to see a therapist. Her illusions of grandeur coupled with her paranoia of everything really make her a candidate for the 'bumper room'. How is it that people like her, Palin, Perry, Ginfrich et all can actually be considered for any office let alone our highest one!!?? There needs to be some sort of 'sanity test' that all candidates must take and pass before running for any public office.
While is it is amusing to read what Bachmann states in her press releases and interviews it is a bit scary that some might really vote for her. Another thing that frightens me is that nearly all of the announced candidates for the GOP nominee are just as frightening. Cain is just winging it, Perry is a dunce, Gingrich isn't really interested and the others too limited to one or two ideas. Romney is candidate that waffles with his audience. It seems that there is not a good candidate among them. It seems more and more that we are going to have a second term for Obama and maybe that is better than electing and of the GOP candidates. It is time for the U S to take care of its own and let the rest of the world fend for itself. Keep secularism and religion out of politics, really stop the earmarks and put the country first.
More lies from the desperate tea bag. Shut up and go away.
Two ill-equipped children in a sandbox spat. This is what the GOP has been reduced to. Sad.
I was really dissappointed when Perry stated that he would not be participating in anymore debates after the November ninth debate. If Perry does not do the debates, that will take away a certain amount of hilarity from them, oh well, we still have pray away the gay Bachman, its your fault Cain, Letum die whatever the old mans name is , deer in the headlights Santorum, and dont forget ill pay you the five- hundred thou if you can catch me newt. It wont be the same without Perry, but it will still be hilarious.
The tea party is all about social issues and corporate greed. What's so confusing?
All of Bachmann's lies end with "This is something that people have told us," However she can never seem to remember who exactly told her.
Dont cry when mud gets on you in a mud fight. After all you have thrown a lot of MUD.
And her staffers who quit in NH have questioned her mental stability. Do you think they might be right?
Please go home. The late night talk show hosts already have more than enough amunition to get us through winter. Geesh!
Bachmann is queen of hearsay. And she desires to be the president. OMG!
Not a Bachmann fan, but when Tea Party "leaders" that support one candidate come out and say another candidate that many in the group support says you should drop out of the race you know they have spoken to the man they support. Maybe you should have asked Matt Robbins of American Majority if he has ever had any contact with the Perry Campaign. What may have started as people attempting change really is big business and a career for many in the American Majority group.
the tea party will end in jonestown, and michelle will be passing out the cool-aid
Bachmann has got to be one of the dumbest broads ever, she is even stupider then Palin and that’s saying a lot. Someone please stick something in her big mouth and keep her quite. What an embarrassment she is.
►"If Gov. Perry has something to say to me, he can come out to the debates and say it,"◄
And when Perry comes to the debates and "say it," Michele Bachmann will go off the deep end and start attacking President Obama!!! She is clueless and an "airhead."
Obama 2012!!
And some people would actually WANT this woman to be president! We have a president who is attacked daily from all sides, mostly because he stands for rights and values for the middle class and resists the 1% control of everything – but also because there are people who just plain hate him. But he perseveres, he's gotten terrorists that Bush couldn't get, and he fights tirelessly to try and get more jobs created. And if the president were ever to talk to the public the way this prissy little coward does, he'd be crucified by the right and ignored by the middle. This is not "presidential behavior" it's kindergarten cowardice.
Her candidacy is a "clumsy move." Somebody please tell this woman it's time to fold her tent because she obviously won't do it on her own. She's done.