Bachmann Cancels Campaign Trip To S.C.
DES MOINES, Iowa (WCCO/AP) — Republican presidential hopeful Michele Bachmann is canceling her campaign trip to South Carolina after a dismal showing in the Iowa caucuses.
Campaign manager Keith Nahigan tells The Associated Press that the Minnesota congresswoman plans a news conference in Iowa later Wednesday morning. Nahigan would not say whether Bachmann intends to drop out.
Bachmann placed well behind Mitt Romney, Rick Santorum, Ron Paul, Newt Gingrich and Rick Perry in Tuesday's caucus vote.
Bachmann told a small group of supporters Tuesday night that she's staying in the presidential race as the only true conservative who can defeat the sitting president. The Minnesota congresswoman told an anemic crowd of just a few dozen supporters, "There are many more chapters to be written on the path to our party's nomination."
Bachmann's showing was a sharp turn after she finished in first place in the Iowa GOP's summer straw poll.
The New Hampshire primary is the next contest in the race. But Bachmann's strategy has her effectively writing off that Jan. 10 contest and focusing on the Southern state that, at least on paper, is a better fit for her brand of conservatism. The South Carolina primary is on Jan. 21.
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