6th District Residents React To Bachmann's Surprise Announcement
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- Minnesota's Rep. Michele Bachmann is one of those rare politicians people seem to really love – or not.
After her surprise announcement Wednesday, it was not totally unexpected that that there were a lot of strong opinions about the Congresswoman. Some even used words not entirely appropriate for television.
However, the reaction WCCO-TV found of the couple of dozen people we talked with in Bachmann's 6th District was essentially evenly divided in an overwhelmingly Republican district.
WCCO report Heather Brown spent the day in Elk River and Blaine, talking to people outside a supermarket, a Home Depot and the Olde Main Eatery.
"She's very personable, easy to talk to, very approachable," Olde Main Eatery owner Greg Ashfeld said.
Customer Kate Woodfill doesn't feel the same way.
"I'm glad she's retiring and I think she's really been an embarrassment to Minnesota," Woodfill said.
The district is strongly Republican. Although Bachmann only edged out Democrat Jim Graces 51 to 59 percent in 2012, 56 percent of the district voted for Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney and 41 percent for President Obama.
Some voters were surprised with her decision.
"Quite a shock," Ashfeld said.
Others were not.
"I think our whole political arena has been really takes its toll on people," resident Linda Hansen said.
Some thought the investigation into her 2012 Presidential Campaign were a driving factor.
"Once you start looking at all that, you start to realize that maybe this isn't going to work so well for you in the future," resident Matt Johnson said.
Many do not think she's going to disappear.
When I asked most people what they expected to happen in the next election, even the Democrats seemed to think this would be a Republican seat.
