The American Spectator : The Spectacle Blog : Bachmann Fading

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Bachmann Fading

By W. James Antle, III on 9.12.11 @ 1:39PM

The latest CNN poll provides more evidence that Michele Bachmann has been hurt by Rick Perry's entry into the Republican presidential race. The survey of Republicans nationally found Perry leading with 32 percent of the vote, followed by Mitt Romney at 21 percent, and Ron Paul at 13 percent. Bachmann ties Newt Gingrich for fourth at 7 percent, just a point ahead of Herman Cain at 6 percent.

If Sarah Palin gets in, Bachmann slides all the way down to seventh place. Under that scenario, the poll found that 30 percent of Republicans picked Perry, 18 percent Romney, 15 percent Palin, 12 percent Paul, Gingrich and Cain at 5 percent each, followed by Bachmann at just 4 percent. That would put Bachmann, who pre-Perry had moved into second place nationally and first place in Iowa, only two points ahead of Rick Santorum and Jon Huntsman.

Other polls have shown similar, if somewhat less pronounced, slippage. Bachmann will need to do well at the debate tonight to stay afloat, assuming the moderators let her. She made some strong points in the less debate when she rightly argued Obamacare can't be repealed by executive order, but she was frequently ignored by the questioners in favor of Perry and Romney.

View all comments (23) | Leave a comment

Joe| 9.12.11 @ 2:13PM

The "debates" are a total sham. Instead of playing all these ridiculous games, pitching Romney and Perry against each other, ignoring everyone else, and basically writing a narrative script in advance so they can keep the story going the way the media wants, the debates should be organized more fairly and more informatively.

They should come up a with a series of questions on the most important issues of the election. Then simply ask each candidate the same questions. Why is this not done? It would give everyone an equal chance to explain comparable views on a straightforward set of subjects. Oh wait, I answered my own question. The media doesn't want there to be a straightforward comparison of candidates on issues.

Casey Abell| 9.12.11 @ 2:20PM

"Other polls have shown similar, if somewhat less pronounced, slippage. "

The slippage is pretty pronounced everywhere. The last three polls in the RCP tracker - Fox News, ABC/WaPo and CNN - put Bachmann at 4%, 6% and 4%. She's sliding fast toward Huntsman-land.

Let's face it, Michele has gone nowhere but downhill since her splash in the first debate. Goofy comments, weird pledges, a glaringly weak record, and now Perry's entrance have just hammered her.

She's loudly advertising her intent to attack Perry tonight. At this point she pretty much has to let it rip to have any chance at all.

Clint | 9.12.11 @ 2:24PM

Our Tea Party Candidate Michele Bachmann Is Said To Be Preparing To Go After Perry On Social Security.

Interestingly, Our Other Tea Party Candidate Dr.Ron Paul Has Spoken Out About Transitioning Out Of Social Security For Years, While Respecting Older Contributors Contributions.

Sean| 9.12.11 @ 2:42PM

Bachmann isn't a liberal media favorite so she isn't being pushed like some others. I am a Paul supporter and I think she has been treated rather badly in the media. In the last debate it seemed she got less time than Huntsman who is see polling at 1-2% all the time.

CalMark| 9.12.11 @ 2:46PM

The obsessiveness and intensity of hatred for Bachmann is disturbing, particularly on a website like this one. Antle leads the charge.

OK, she's not doing as well as before--maybe. Suddenly CNN is oracular, though? The Iowa Straw Poll was meaningless?

Anyway, Antle's judgment is suspect, especially about polls. He crowed about Ron Paul "winning" the 2009 CPAC Straw Poll--as though it wasn't rigged by swarms of Paulistas being bused in.

Trinacria| 9.12.11 @ 3:05PM

Intense hatred? I scrolled back and re-read the blog just to make sure - Mr. Antle essentially conveys three brief and factual points:

1) Ms. Bachmann appears to be slipping in the polls.

2) This appears to be a result of Mr. Perry's entry into the race (as the start of the descent coincides with Mr. Perry's entry); further declines might be expected with the entry of another candidate who holds similar views to Mr. Bachmann (Ms. Palin).

3) Ms. Bachmann will need to perform well in tonights debate to sure up her poll numbers

Where's the hate? I don't see any reference to Mr. Bachmann being an unfit candidate, without compelling ideas, or lacking in experience or intellect. What I see is a recitation of indisputable facts - are we now going to redefine hate as "reporting that which is anything but effusive in praise for the candidate that I happen to like"?

C'mon, sport - we've got enough professional victims in this country (they're called liberals).

Lullabys, Legends and Lies| 9.12.11 @ 3:41PM

Tri: Ouch!! That last line hurt!! It was funny, and true, but I'm sure it hurt nonetheless!! Although calling somebody a Liberal, has become one of my own favorite insults in the last few years too!! Nothing cuts as deeply!!

Now I'm not behind anybody yet, so I don't care where they are in the polls at the moment, I'm just waiting for things to shake out a little bit. So if Michele Bachmann is really fading, well then, so be it, it was nice while it lasted!! Next!!

But this Rick Perry character? I'm not too sure about him yet at all!! Everybody's jumping on his bandwagon now, but he supported Al "Global Warming" Gore a little more than a decade ago right? Seriously, WTF? He's got some explaining to do, before I can think about climbing on board myself!! How can you go from Psycho Liberal Gore, to trying to get the Republican nomination now? Explain Please!!

Trinacria| 9.12.11 @ 3:43PM

Not sure I can explain it; perhaps he started taking his medication...

Clint | 9.12.11 @ 4:22PM

We're hearing that Perry, is a salesman,who says & does whatever he thinks will win with the particular electorate he's campaigning to.

He's a Plastic RINO-CINO,Just like Mittens Romney.

We're bein' Played by The Ruling Elite & Their Media Flunkie Stooges, ,just like we were Played the last time with John McCain & Romney.

The Tea Party Rebellion Is Here .

Rise Up In Rebellion.

Trinacria| 9.12.11 @ 4:29PM

"Rise up in rebellion".

...so that a nuclear Iran can shoot us down.

Clint | 9.12.11 @ 4:51PM

That's so we can take back The Republic, Franklin gave us, if we could keep it, Sport.

Trinacria| 9.12.11 @ 6:20PM

Ah, a grammarian! While I do so cherish the opportunity to engage in a battle of wits, I must confess I find it rather unsporting to do so when one's opponent is so helplessly unarmed...Sport.

Now, do run along and join your playmates in that delightfully cheery make-believe world where everyone will treat us nicely if we simply pretend they're not a threat. The good Dr. Paul will see you now...

Lullabys, Legends and Lies| 9.12.11 @ 6:41PM

And don't call me Sport, Buddy!!
And don't call me Buddy, Pal!!
And don't call me Pal, Friend!!
And don't call me Friend, Sport!!

Clint| 9.12.11 @ 9:41PM

You're another Pseudo-intellect Elitist School Marm ,who thinks you're gonna lecture down to Us, The Great Unwashed.

Get Bent, Asshat.

The Tea Party Rebellion Is Here.

Rise Up In Rebellion.

Clint| 9.12.11 @ 9:43PM

The above snotty retort goes to Trina Cryer.

Thank You.

Trinacria| 9.12.11 @ 10:25PM

Really, Sport; this is the best you've got? Get bent, asshat? Never before in the history of intellectual discourse has such a brilliant argument been so exquisitely expressed. Profound, yet simple (quite simple).

In your defense, I suppose I should give you due credit for recognizing you were being talked down to. Well done

Trinacria| 9.12.11 @ 10:31PM

By the way, shall we be seeing each other at next week's MENSA club meeting?

I know, cheap shot - turns out us pseudo intellectuals aren't above sniping. Who knew?

PattyMor| 9.12.11 @ 2:47PM

I have been supporting Bachmann up til now. If she attacks Perry over his Ponzi scheme comments about Social Security, then I am done with supporting her. Everyone with a brain knows Social Security is a giant ponzi scheme.

Wayne| 9.12.11 @ 4:17PM

If the GOP wants to figure out a way to lose in 2012, it just has to continue its attack on medicare and social security. Neither have anything to do with Obama and what he has done in the last 3 years. Don't use this as an attempt to correct 50 to 80 year old mistakes. We have a 3 year old mistake to fix that demands full attention. The Democrats are just praying the debate is about medicare and social security. It is there only hope to win in 2012.

Clint | 9.12.11 @ 4:27PM

Yeah, The Arlen Specter-John McCain School of The Lesser Evil has done nothin' but sold out Conservatism for Democrap Lite & givin' us Tickets On The Loserville Trolley.

Bob| 9.12.11 @ 4:34PM

Michele can be a viable Presidential candidate in '16, but she needs remedial lessons in US History/Geography starting at the Nursery School level. Michele's kids can home school her, there is a novel thought. As soon as Michele can find the Pacific Ocean on a world map, knows Lexington & Concord is in Mass. and sings happy birthday Elvis on his birthday she is a viable candidate and who knows she may be nominated by the infantile GOP.

Clint | 9.12.11 @ 4:39PM

By then, Obama should be back in Kenya, selling Hut Owners Insurance.

Trinacria| 9.12.11 @ 11:07PM

What are you, 12?

I fully understand that the constitution guarantees your right to free speech; if you have nothing of substance to say, however, perhaps you'd be well served by chosing not to exercise that right.

In the spirit of candor, your posts aren't witty, they aren't funny, and they make no meaningful contribution to the discourse. In short, they're beneath the level of commentary one expects in these pages. Pity.