Michele Bachmann

Another Republican presidential debate, another forceful performance by Mitt Romney. The subject was the economy, jobs, and finance—Romney’s strong suits—and he made the most of it, having more to say on those subjects and saying it more cogently than the other seven candidates.

A calmer, more subdued Michele Bachmann took to the stage Friday night at the Values Voter Summit in Washington. Her voice was noticeably less passionate than in stump speeches past.

The old standards were all there: I will repeal Obamacare, she promised. Conservatives don’t have to settle for a moderate, she pleaded. Let’s make Barack Obama a “One! Term! President!” she chanted, though this time it sounded more like, “One. Term. President.”

Mark McKinnon: "Chris Christie's Best Reason to Run"

CNN: "South Carolina to hold primary on January 21"

The polling firm American Research Group has a new survey of Iowa Republican voters, showing Mitt Romney leading with 21 percent, Michele Bachmann receiving 15 percent of support, and Rick Perry with 14 percent. A full 15 percent of those polled are undecided. ARG polled 600 likely Republican caucus goers in Iowa.

In addition to its main results, which John McCormack reported earlier, the latest CNN poll asked all respondents (not screening for likely or registered voters) whether a given candidate “has the personality and leadership qualities a President should have.”

Orlando, Florida
“Howdy,” Rick Perry says, welcoming the crowd at the Rosen Center Hotel. It's hours before Thursday's debate, and the Texas governor is speaking to activists participating in a “Meet and Greet” pre-debate party organized by the Faith and Freedom Coalition. Perry's the last presidential candidate to address the gathering.

A CBS News/New York Times poll taken from September 10th-15th (both before and after the most recent debate) shows Rick Perry with a 7-point edge (23 to 16 percent) over Mitt Romney among registered voters who intend to vote in a Republican primary or caucus. Newt Gingrich has moved into a tie with Michele Bachmann for third place, with 7 percent apiece, followed by Herman Cain and Ron Paul at 5 percent apiece. Rick Santorum and Jon Huntsman are each at 1 percent.

Declare the pennies on your eyes: Jan Schakowsky doesn't think you deserve to keep all the money you earn.

Jon Huntsman doesn't like scary things.

Michele Bachmann's new book's cover.

In last night's GOP presidential debate Minnesota congresswoman Michele Bachmann lambasted Texas governor Rick Perry for his executive order, which never went into effect, that sixth grade girls should receive a vaccine to prevent HPV, a sexually transmitted disease that causes cervical cancer. Bachmann knocked Perry down a notch, arguing that the episode was an example of crony capitalism (Perry's former chief of staff was the chief lobbyist for the drug company that manufactured the vaccine). 

Jon Huntsman, Herman Cain, Michele Bachmann, Mitt Romney, Rick Perry, Ron Paul, Newt Gingrich, and Rick Santorum have taken the stage in Tampa, Florida for the Tea Party Express/CNN debate. Moderator Wolf Blitzer announced that all 8 GOP presidential candidates were on stage. But they aren't . . . where's Buddy?

Fifteen minutes into last night’s Republican presidential debate, Michele Bachmann became the first candidate to mention and attack Obamacare. She did so after five other debaters had already spoken, and in response to a question that didn’t explicitly reference the overhaul — thereby immediately establishing repeal as her top priority.

Michele Bachmann knows that the Constitution prohibits the states from imposing health-insurance mandates.  She just doesn't know what part of the Constitution does this.  But she's open to suggestions. 

That was the bottom line of her interesting exchange yesterday, at the South Carolina GOP presidential candidates forum, with Robert George.