Michele Bachmann Endorses Mitt Romney

Video

Bachmann endorses Romney (NBC News, May 3, 2012) — Speaking at a rally in Virginia, Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann endorses Mitt Romney for president, saying it’s a choice between President Obama or President Romney. (02:23; not part of Washington Post report below)

By Rachel Weiner
The Fix

May 3, 2012

Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.) endorsed former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney in Virginia on Thursday.

“I’m honored to announce that today, I am endorsing Governor Mitt Romney for President of the United States, a man who will preserve the American dream of prosperity and liberty,” she said in a statement released this afternoon.  “On November 6th, the only option is Mitt Romney for President.”

The conservative lawmaker and former White House hopeful was one of Romney’s harshest critics in the presidential race. She dropped out in early January after placing sixth in Iowa’s caucuses; since then she has issued vague calls for unity, but stopped short of an endorsement.

Bachmann based her campaign on opposition to Democratic health-care reform and repeatedly argued that Romney was too close to President Obama on the issue. In December she called Romney “the only governor in the history of the United States to put into place socialized medicine.”

Shortly before exiting the race, Bachmann told ABC News that Romney, who was governor of Massachusetts from 2003 to 2007, “can’t beat Obama” because he wrote “the blueprint for Obamacare.”

Now, all of Romney’s rivals save Rep. Ron Paul (R-Texas) have dropped out, and Bachmann has decided that time to embrace Romney has arrived. Former Bachmann campaign manager Keith Nahigian said there was also a personal element to the endorsement. …

Full story

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Twitter

@TeamBachmann – As you’ve endorsed @MittRomney, I have to conclude you were either a phoney or a sellout. I regret supporting you.

— Jim Williams (@Hiraghm) May 3, 2012

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Related analysis

Video

Bachmann, Gingrich endorse Romney despite former attacks (MSNBC “Hardball,” May 3, 2012) — Republican strategist Todd Harris and Democratic strategist Steve McMahon discuss Mitt Romney’s recent endorsements from his former opponents, despite statements in which they’ve doubted Romney’s conservative stance. (08:09)

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Topical reports on this site

Back in 2009, when Michele Bachmann was focused on reelection to Congress in Minnesota’s libertarian-leaning 6th District, she heavily courted Rep. Ron Paul. But now that she’s focused ‘like a laser beam’ on her national ambitions, she’s kicked Dr. Paul to the curb and embraced Gov. Romney who, in her own words, “can’t beat Obama” and is “the only governor in the history of the United States to put into place socialized medicine.”

Queer Bachmann-Paul Pairing (Sept. 28, 2009)

Ron Paul Converts Michele Bachmann (Aug. 27, 2009)