Michele Bachmann Says Campaign Can Be Revived
WASHINGTON, Oct. 30, 2011— -- Despite slipping in state and national polls, GOP presidential candidate Rep. Michele Bachmann says her campaign can still be revived, with just over two months before voting in the Iowa caucus.
"I'm doing exactly what I need to do in Iowa. I'm here, all across the state, meeting with people multiple times every day," Bachmann told "This Week" anchor Christiane Amanpour from Cedar Rapids, Iowa. "And so it's amazing what a difference several weeks can make in the course of a presidential campaign."
The latest Des Moines Register poll released Sunday shows Herman Cain and Mitt Romney leading the pack in Iowa, at 23 percent and 22 percent respectively, with Bachmann falling to a distant fourth place at 8 percent, followed by Rick Perry and Newt Gingrich at 7 percent each.
"We're not worried about the day-to-day snapshots. What we're focused on are the primary dates," Bachmann said in response to the poll results. "So we're doing the fundamentals…We're focusing on greeting people, meeting with them, and getting our positive message, which is pro-growth and job creation."
Bachmann would not say whether Iowa was a must-win state for her, although she has focused most of her attention on her former home state since joining the presidential race.
"We're focused on Iowa," Bachmann said. "Iowa is the first caucus. Then on to New Hampshire."
Herman Cain has risen in the polls through his "9-9-9" economic plan, while Rick Perry last week proposed a 20 percent flat tax option.
Bachmann, who claimed last week that Perry had borrowed elements of her economic plans in his proposal, said she would flatten rates while requiring all Americans to pay at least some tax.
"I would abolish the United States federal tax code, and in its place, I would flatten the rates and simplify them," Bachmann said. "I would not have just one rate, but I'd have several rates, which is a flattened, simple, much fairer system, and one that would be equitable and raise revenues for the federal government."
Overseas, Bachmann says she still opposes U.S. action taken in Libya against Muammar Gadhafi, who was overthrown by rebel forces before being killed this month.
"My position is that the United States should not have gone into Libya, because, again, the last chapter isn't written," Bachmann said. "There's tremendous instability in the Libyan region, and we have seen continued deaths and fighting. And this will not end any time soon."
"There's tremendous uncertainty and chaos," Bachmann added. "And of course, when there's uncertainty and chaos in a nation, that's when you see trouble and potentially extremist elements that could come into power. That would not be good for the United States' interest in that area."
