Bachmann’s brazen style keeps GOP rivals on edge

With Minnesota Republican Michele Bachmann’s quick rise from state lawmaker to unofficial Tea Party ambassador in Washington, her brazen style has kept Republican leaders on edge and appealed to those searching for a fresh, unfettered voice. She relishes the spotlight and seldom cedes ground.

Her unpredictable edge was on display during Monday night’s GOP presidential debate in New Hampshire when, out of the blue, she announced that she had filed papers to be an official candidate for the Republican nomination.

Known for piercing and sometimes inaccurate commentary, she regularly aggravates political opponents and provides ample fodder to late-night comics. She once falsely claimed taxpayers would be stuck with a $200 million per day tab for Democratic President Barack Obama’s trip to India. She mistakenly identified New Hampshire as the site of the Revolutionary War’s opening shots. That key American moment occurred in Massachusetts.