Michele Bachmann: My migraines will not stop me from serving as commander-in-chief

The Daily Caller, a conservative website run by Tucker Carlson, alleged in a story published Tuesday that Bachmann's migraines require her to take "all sorts of pills" and caused her to be hospitalized for stress-induced severe headaches at least three times last year. The story said the migraines occur roughly once a week on average and can "incapacitate" Bachmann for days, and raised questions about Bachmann's ability to function as president as a result.

"Like nearly 30 million other Americans, I experience migraines that are easily controlled with medication," Bachmann said in a written statement that she read at a campaign rally in Aiken, South Carolina.

"Since entering the campaign, I have maintained a full schedule between my duties as a congresswoman and as a presidential candidate traveling across the nation to meet with voters in the key, early primary and caucus states of Iowa, New Hampshire, and South Carolina," Bachmann continued. "I have prescribed medication that I take whenever symptoms arise and they keep the migraines under control. Let me be abundantly clear - my ability to function effectively has never been impeded by migraines and will not affect my ability to serve as Commander in Chief."

The Minnesota lawmaker added that "the many questions I have received on the subject have allowed me to discuss this important condition that impacts individuals in nearly one in four households."

"However, as a presidential candidate and office holder, I am focused on performing my job, which has never been more important given the state of our economy and the millions of Americans that are out of work," she said. "While I appreciate the concern for me and my health, the greater concern should be the debate that is occurring in Washington over whether or not we will increase our debt, spending and taxes."

After Bachmann made the remarks, Time reports, she was pursued by ABC News reporter Brian Ross, who asked Bachmann if she had ever missed a House vote due to migraines. Bachmann reportedly ignored her, and Ross followed her into a parking area.  And then, reports Time's Michael Crowley:

"Her aides grew alarmed. When Ross made a beeline for the white SUV waiting to carry Bachmann away, two Bachmann men pounced on him, grabbing and pushing him multiple times with what looked to me like unusual force. In fact, I have never seen a reporter treated so roughly at a campaign event, especially not a presidential one. Ross was finally able to break away and lob his question at Bachmann one more time, but she ignored him again."

Asked if he had been treated so roughly before, Ross told Crowley: "A few times. Mostly by mafia people."