Bachmann's Big Haul

Fox News reports:  

Rep. Michele Bachmann, R-Minn., raised a combined total of $2.2 million in the first quarter of 2011, outgaining presumed presidential contender Mitt Romney who raised $1.9 million over the same period.

One caveat: Romney likely put more cash in the bank than Bachmann did in the first quarter because she's likely raising money from high-cost direct mail, while he probably has a larger amount of high-dollar donors. Remember when everyone was wowed that Sharron Angle raised $14 million in one quarter? We found out later that it cost her $12 million to raise that $14 million. 

With that said, at this point raising $2 million off direct mail may be more impressive than netting a higher amount because (1) Bachmann can go back to these donors in the future and (2) it shows there's a strong level of grassroots interest in her.