Michele Bachmann on the campaign trail

Rep. Michele Bachmann, R-Minn., has only been serving Congress for two terms, but the GOP presidential candidate has quickly become a favorite among Tea Party voters and social conservatives. Bachmann, who launched the House Tea Party Caucus, has been a vocal critic of the Obama administration and a leading anti-health care voice around the Capitol. She has also been able to use the Tea Party label to her financial advantage. Still, the candidate's aggressive rhetoric and posture have earned her comparisons to the most divisive aspects of Sarah Palin - and some of her conservative positions might hurt her in a general election contest. In the following slides, CBSNews.com tracks Bachmann's recent moves on the campaign trail.

Bachmann works the 'spin room' after debating fellow candidates Herman Cain, Newt Gingrich, Jon Huntsman, Ron Paul, Rick Perry, Mitt Romney and Rick Santorum in the South Carolina Presidential Debate at Wofford College, sponsored by SCGOP, CBS News and the National Journal, on November 12, 2011 in Spartanburg, South Carolina.

Michelle Bachmann — Win McNamee/Getty Images

Bachmann speaks at the Family Research Council Action headquarters November 7, 2011 in Washington, DC. She discussed the role of government in the lives of Americans and the principles that would govern her policies as President of the United States during he remarks.

Bachmann pays for items she bought during a campaign stop at Zeb's General Store, Oct. 9, 2011, in North Conway, N.H.

Bachmann pays the bill after drinking Cuban coffee during a stop at Versailles Restaurant in Miami, Aug. 29, 2011.

Michele Bachmann — Scott Olson/Getty Images

Bachmann greets guests at the Black Hawk County GOP Lincoln Day Dinner, August 14, 2011 in Waterloo, Iowa. The visit came on the heels of Bachmann's victory at the Iowa Straw Poll.

Bachmann speaks at the Commonwealth Club of California on October 20, 2011 in San Francisco, California.

Bachmann walks on stage during day two of the Republican National Convention at the Xcel Energy Center on September 2, 2008 in St. Paul, Minnesota, in one of her earlier high-profile appearances.

Bachmann leads a news conference and rally on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol November 5, 2009 in Washington. Thousands of people and most of the Republican members of the House of Representatives attended the rally to voice their opposition to the House version of the health care reform legislation which Congress ultimately passed after a prolonged, contentious battle.

Bachmann addresses several hundred people with a bullhorn while holding a stack of petitions during a "CODE RED" rally in opposition to the health care reform bill on Capitol Hill March 16, 2010 in Washington.

Bachmann speaks at the "Values Voter Summit" on September 17, 2010 in Washington. The summit is an annual conservative political gathering for leaders and activists.

Bachmann speaks during a rally organized by Americans for Progress on Capitol Hill November 15, 2010 in Washington. Associated with the Tea Party movement, Americans for Progress members and supporters rallied to "send a clear message to Washington that voters have spoken and that politicians should not pursue big government policies in the Lame Duck session."

Bachmann makes remarks during a press conference sponsored by "RepealItNow.org" to receive petitions calling for repeal of "Obamacare" on January 18, 2011 on Capitol Hill in Washington.

Bachmann speaks during a Tea Party Town Hall meeting February 8, 2011 at the National Press Club in Washington. The town hall meeting was held by the Tea Party Express and Tea Party HD to address issues with which Tea Party members were concerned.

Bachmann laughs with colleagues after Rep. John Boehner's January 2011 election as the new speaker of the House. The 112th U.S. Congress was sworn-in the same day, with Republican legislators taking control of the House of Representatives.

Bachmann speaks at the Conservative Political Action conference on February 10, 2011 in Washington. At the gathering, an annual project of the American Conservative Union, Bachmann told an audience of enthusiastic conservative activists that "we have seen President Obama usher in socialism under his watch over the last two years."

Photo by Darren McCollester/Getty Images

Bachmann speaks with Jesse (L) and Cody (R) Baldwin at Calef's Country Store March 12, 2011 in Barrington, New Hampshire. Bachmann was in New Hampshire on a multi-stop trip attending fundraisers and meeting with members of the Republican Liberty Caucus of New Hampshire.

Bachmann signs autographs for supporters during a Tea Party rally March 31, 2011 on Capitol Hill in Washington. Members of the Tea Party held a rally to express their opinions on the 2012 Fiscal Year budget proposal.

Bachmann leaves a closed Republican Conference Meeting on the budget negotiations April 8, 2011 on Capitol Hill in Washington. The Obama administration and congressional Republicans reached a deal late that night to avert a government shutdown.

Bachmann, along with former two-term Penn. Sen. Rick Santorum and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, chat before the 2012 Republican presidential candidates' debate in Manchester, New Hampshire June 13, 2011.

Bachmann poses for a photo with a supporter after speaking at the Republican Leadership Conference in New Orleans, June 17, 2011.