Bachmann Says She Will Not Continue In The Race

via Sarah Wheaton, The New York Times

On the morning before Iowa’s first-in-the-nation caucuses, Representative Michele Bachmann of Minnesota said she was counting on a “miracle” to resurrect her faltering campaign. On the morning after, she acknowledged that it was beyond saving.

Mrs. Bachmann said on Wednesday morning that she would not continue her campaign for the Republican presidential nomination.

“Last night, the people of Iowa spoke with a very clear voice, and so I have decided to stand aside,” Mrs. Bachmann said at a news conference in West Des Moines.

In her comments, she continued her criticism of President Obama and his policies, particularly his health care program and the Dodd-Frank bill that provided more oversight of the financial industry. “I will continue to fight to defeat the president’s agenda of socialism,” she said.

Surrounded by her family, Mrs. Bachmann invoked her faith frequently. “I look forward to the next chapter in God’s plan,” she said. “He has one for each of us, you know.”

But two questions about Mrs. Bachmann’s future remain.

She did not say whether she would endorse one of her former rivals in the bid for the Republican nomination or whether she would run for re-election in Congress. She suspended her House campaign after announcing her presidential bid and her Sixth Congressional District in Minnesota could be redrawn to her disadvantage.

Her spokeswoman, Alice Stewart, said that Mrs. Bachmann “just made up her mind about this this morning,” and that “she hasn’t made a decision” about her next steps but is not ruling out an endorsement.

Ms. Stewart said Mrs. Bachmann conferred with her family and a few aides after her disappointing showing on Tuesday evening.

“She prayed about it, thought about it all night long,” Ms. Stewart said. “As of this morning, she just decided that it wasn’t prudent” to continue.

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