Campaign Report: Bachman Low On Funds
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – Rep. Michele Bachmann reported Friday that she raised $3.9 million in the last three months and that she has $1.3 million in the bank.
Bachmann has suffered a slowdown in her fundraising. The nearly $4 million she raised in the last three months is less than she received in the previous three months. In comparison to other GOP presidential candidates, Bachmann's funds are lacking.
Gov. Rick Perry of Texas reported that his campaign raised $17 million. Mitt Romney reported $14 million, and Rep. Ron Paul, $8 million.
Bachmann, who's also dropping steeply in the polls, says she's not concerned. Because of the roller coaster of the Republican race, different candidates surge into the lead at different times; Bachmann's strategy is to ride it out.
"I think what it says is that this is absolutely volatile, and that it's anyone's to win right now," Bachmann said. "It's not solid. Every day it's a new person who could be president of the United States. We think we are very well positioned. I'm the only candidate who won the Iowa straw poll. "
Bachmann's not the only Minnesotan with money troubles. Former Gov. Tim Pawlenty dropped out of the presidential race, and new financial reports reveal his presidential campaign is in debt. He has $453,000 in unpaid bills, which is a major reasons he stepped out after losing the Iowa straw poll.
"We gave it our best shot," Pawlenty said. "We took it as far as we could, and in the end, we just ran out of money. "
After ending his presidential campaign, Pawlenty endorsed Romney, not Bachmann, for president.
And after watching the rest of the Republican presidential field falter, Pawlenty admitted he is second guessing his decision to get out of the race.
One more interesting factoid from the Bachmann campaign report: Bachmann paid country music star Randy Travis a lot of money to perform for her campaign on the day of the Iowa Straw Poll in Ames in last August. The report shows Bachmann paid Travis $37,500 through the Creative Artist Agency of Nashville. Only people who registered with Bachmann's campaign were able to see Travis live in concert.
