A poll released today shows that Michele Bachmann retains solid support in her congressional district, with 53 percent who approve of her and 41 percent who don't.

The Public Policy Polling poll also shows she's in fine shape against potential DFL opponents: leading Maureen Reed 53-37 and Tarryl Clark 55-37.

A summary by the pollsters notes:

Michele Bachmann may constantly be generating controversy in the national news, but back at home she finds herself in a solid position politically.

Adds the poll report:

Likely contributing to Bachmann’s present solid standing in the district is the unpopularity of Barack Obama and the national Democratic brand. After winning 45% in MN-6 last year, Obama’s approval rating with its voters is now just 39%.

Only 29% of voters there express support for the health care bill that passed the House of Representatives last month, a number equal to the percentage of voters in the district who approve of the job Congressional Democrats are doing.

“Michele Bachmann’s constituents don’t seem to mind her penchant for controversial comments,” said Dean Debnam, President of Public Policy Polling. “Given how poorly national Democrats rate in the district they probably agree with a lot of them.”

PPP surveyed 719 district voters Dec. 17-20, with a margin of error of plus or minus 3.7 percent.

Public Policy Polling is often referred to in news accounts with the term "Democratic-leaning," so the National Republican Congressional Committee  jumped all over this poll, sending the results to news media outlets and noting:

"Despite being the darling of Washington Democrats and the liberal political establishment in Minnesota, Clark does no better against Rep. Bachmann than political opportunist Dr. Reed."

And:

"With a Democratic polling firm saying that Bachmann is safe, it’s time for Washington Democrats to end the charade that this is a competitive race and that they see a path to victory."