2012 contender Bachmann seeks to broaden appeal
Source: AP
GREENVILLE, S.C. (AP) — Pigeonholed as a right-wing disciple, Michele Bachmann is offering herself as a presidential candidate who can unite the GOP's disparate base and appeal to Republicans of all ideological stripes. "Fiscal conservatives — I'm one of those. National security conservatives — I'm one of those. Social conservatives — I'm one of those. And the tea party — I'm one of those," the Minnesota congresswoman said repeatedly in South Carolina this past week.
The line, now standard fare as she visits early primary states, provides a window into her strategy of selling herself as more than just a social conservative crusader. Bachmann's ability to overtake rivals Mitt Romney and Rick Perry in the GOP nomination contest may depend on whether she can attract support beyond her core evangelical and tea party constituencies, which gravitate toward her strong stances on cultural issues.
But this year, economic concerns clearly rate above many others with most voters. If she wins the party nod, she will have to court moderates and independents as well as conservatives. Throughout her political career, Bachmann has fiercely guarded and worked to bolster her social conservative reputation.
She has had a 100 percent rating from the influential American Conservative Union during her nearly five years in Congress, based on her voting record. Over the past few years, she rode the wave of the rising tea party and used her frequent TV appearances to stoke a national image as a favorite of the right. As a candidate, Bachmann isn't eager to revisit her past controversial statements even though Democratic and Republican rivals alike use them to paint her as a fringe Republican in the race to challenge President Barack Obama.
