Michele Bachmann will seek reelection

Rep. Michele Bachman (R-Minn.) will run for a fourth term in the House.
 
Bachmann declared her intentions to seek reelection in an interview Wednesday with The Associated Press.
 
{mosads}“I’m looking forward to coming back and bringing a strong, powerful voice to Washington, D.C.,” Bachmann said.
 
Only minutes before the release of the AP interview, Bachmann seemed caught off guard when asked directly if she’d be running for a fourth term.
 
“I, very — yes,” she said on Fox News.
 
She quickly qualified her response to indicate that it was only an option that she would be considering.
 
“I believe I’ll be looking at that, very seriously looking at coming back for a fourth term.”

But she did not qualify her response to The Associated Press, saying that she is running.

After a brief surge early in the GOP presidential race capped by her win in the Ames straw poll, Bachmann pulled out earlier this month following a sixth-place finish in the Iowa caucuses.
 
The contentious nature of the primary season, coupled with some high-profile missteps, sent her back to Minnesota with a low favorability rating in her home state.
 
According to a statewide Public Policy Poll released Tuesday, only 34 percent of those polled have a positive view of the lawmaker, while 57 percent have an unfavorable view.
 
Only 37 percent said she should run for reelection.
 
But National Republican Congressional Committee Chairman Pete Sessions (R-Texas) said in a news release Wednesday that he was “pleased” to hear Bachmann was running for reelection.
 
“Michele understands that the greatness of America lies in the freedom and opportunity of its people — not the size of its government,” Sessions said. “I applaud her tireless fight to repeal ObamaCare and reduce the size and cost of government so that Americans can create their own prosperity. I join House Republicans in welcoming Michele’s continued service in Congress and look forward to working with her in the years ahead.”
 
Bachmann’s district will likely be affected by the state’s redistricting plan. A special panel will issue maps later this month to compete with a plan put forth by state Democrats.