Democrats Target Sarah Palin-Michele Bachmann Rally
Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin and Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann, two of the conservative movement's stars, are expected to draw thousands of supporters today when they appear together to kick off Bachmann's re-election campaign. Democrats, meanwhile, are attempting to rally their own supporters by taking aim at the controversial figures.
The Democratic National Committee released a Web video today (shown at left) with snippets of controversial quotes from Palin and Bachmann, calling them "the extreme faces of the new GOP."
"From these two we have heard nothing but fear and lies - from death panels to warning of a coming apocalypse - and today's rally shouldn't be any different," DNC national press secretary Hari Sevugan said in a statement.
Meanwhile, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has created an online "Bachmann or Palin" quiz, which quizzes players on which Republican made a certain incendiary remark, such as the claim that health care reform would lead to "death panels." The DCCC requires users to enter their e-mail address before playing, and users are encouraged to share the quiz via social networking sites.
The DCCC has also launched the site PalinPrimaries.com, which claims to "track the most divisive and messy House Republican primaries in the country," in order to "help" Palin in her involvement in this November's midterm elections. The site teases Palin for taking notes on her hand earlier this year by displaying congressional districts with Republican primaries on the palm of a hand.
Democratic Rep. Keith Ellison sent out his own fundraising e-mail targeting Palin and Bachmann, Talking Points Memo reports, because today's Minneapolis rally is, in fact, in his district, not Bachmann's.
"I need your help to send a strong message to Bachmann and Palin that their scare tactics are not welcome in my District," Ellison wrote in the e-mail. "Can you help me reach 100 donors by making a contribution of $5 or more?"
Bachmann likely needed a large venue like the Minneapolis Convention Center to host the crowd expected to attend today. The Minnesota GOP gave away more than 10,000 tickets for the event, WCCO reports.
Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, a potential 2012 GOP presidential hopeful, will attend the event, as will conservative Fox News talk show host Sean Hannity. The 3:00 p.m. Eastern Time event will be live streamed here.
