Conservative Republicans in Iowa might be taking another look at Michele Bachmann’s campaign, now that the bloom is off the rose of Texas Gov. Rick Perry.
That’s the word from Bob Vander Plaats, director of the Family Leader group, via MPR News:
“[B]ecause of Rick Perry’s debate performances and some of the issues that people didn’t realize at the time, it’s given these conservatives a cause for pause and a chance to take a look at other people again like Michele Bachmann,” Vander Plaats said. “So I think she’s starting to resurge.”
He says Bachmann is getting back to the campaign style that helped her win the August Ames Straw Poll. Since then, her numbers in Iowa and around the country have fallen precipitously.
“I thought I saw her in some debates almost shrink back from opportunities that presented themselves — kind of like — I’m not so sure how I want to play this. Well, now I think she’s feeling a little more comfortable on that stage, and I think she will not let an opportunity slip by,” said Vander Plaats. “I think she’s going to be bold. She is going to be courageous, and if she shows that titanium spine, she’s going to do really well.”
And as we know, it’s still early in the process, so anything’s possible:
“This field is extremely wide open. You could make an argument for every candidate in the race who’s competing, the seven that are competing here, that they could win the state of Iowa. And so it will be interesting to see how this plays out,” said Vander Plaats.
