Understanding Michelle Bachmann means understanding her audience. This is where it gets tricky because Bachmann's controversial stance on her relationship between religion and politics has polarized voters. People either love her or hate it, which limits her ability to navigate this race if she loses her main supporters. With the entrance of Rick Perry into the race, Bachmann has been put in an interesting position that could make or break her campaign.
There is no doubt about it that Bachmann's overt religious language has caused controversy in the media and that if somebody doesn't agree with her one of her views, its hard to agree with the rest. Bachmann has taken a firm stance on popular topics in culture today such as gay marriage, immigration, and abortion. Her conservative stance has both strengthened and weakened her campaign. Her next few strategic moves are important in strengthening her role in the race if she has any luck to catch up to Perry and Romney in the polls.
With Rick Perry's bid for the Republican ticket made official, Bachmann's position in the polls has dropped dramatically. Attracting the same core group of conservative Evangelical voters, Bachmann and Perry are competing heavily with one another to score enough votes from this particular group of voters. The LA Times noted how "Bachmann has plummeted in recent polls, but several Republican insiders argue that she still shows strength in Iowa because of the work her campaign did before she won the straw poll. A chart in Bachmann's brick Urbandale office shows that volunteers had made 45,000 phone calls by August and are keeping touch with those supporters"(LA Times).
Bachmann clearly has enough support for a sustainable position in this race, especially after winning the straw polls in Iowa: "Michele Bachmann captured the famed Iowa Straw Poll in Ames Saturday, reaching a high-profile benchmark in her meteoric rise to a top-tier presidential candidate.
Bachmann made history, as well, becoming the first woman to win the event. She received 4,823 votes out of the almost 17,000 votes cast. The turnout was a significant leap over four years ago but didn't approach the record of more than 23,000 votes cast back in 1999"(LA Times).
The same article notes that while this is victory for Bachmann personally, it may not be a political victory: "Winning the straw poll doesn’t guarantee victory in the caucuses, however; Mitt Romney won in 2007 and then lost to Mike Huckabee when it counted five months later. And Perry’s candidacy unsettles the race further, making the outcome next year here hazier than ever"LA Times
Either way, Bachmann's role in the media will make or break her and she has almost become the next Sarah Palin. Both women are the Queen of Sound Bytes. The video below supports this claim because, like Palin, Bachmann's comments in the media are what the general public will hear. Turning on the local news and hearing Bachmann's comments play on a news story are what most American's will base their decisions on. Her reputation is forming and it will be interesting to see if it translates into votes.
I am very curious to see how Bachmann does as this race continues. Religion has obviously played a huge role in her campaign, but I think you have to look at the gender issue here as well. I just feel like women unfairly feel the necessity to go above and beyond. I think this has something to do with the fact that women politicians are usually loved or hated. Another unfair aspect of this gender issue is the amount of criticism that women get.
ReplyDeleteGiven that the video you posted features of remix of "Yakety Sax" playing in the background, I'm sorta obligated to comment here.
ReplyDeleteAs Bachmann was already on a significant downturn BEFORE Perry began his own plummet (with the DREAM Act issue almost certainly being his final knell), her chances at this point are if possible even worse than a month ago.
While Perry losing ground might appear on the surface to be an advantage for Bachmann, I feel it is more indicative of the GOP establishment finally reaching the point where they're zero-ing in on their candidate for the general election and throwing aside their various flirtations with flavors of the month. For the reasons indicated both by this post and by the video, Bachmann simply won't survive such a purge.
The woman is simply incapable of keeping her mouth shut when it is politically expedient, and while that is a great quality for a speaking tour it won't beat Obama. This is the period where support is going to heavily favor the most electable member of the "old guard." In 2008 this attitude gave us McCain; as of now the cycle is almost certainly going to repeat itself with Romney.
And as for Michele Bachmann? Well, if I was her, I would get started on my next runaway bestseller right about now.
Thank you for your comments.
- Kevin Chafe