On Monday night, Fox News contributor and conservative columnist Charles Krauthammer suggested that of all the potential Republican candidates generating buzz – Sarah Palin, Donald Trump, Michele Bachmann and Haley Barbour — Barbour is the only one who should be taken seriously.
Bachmann took exception to Krauthammer’s analysis. On “Fox & Friends” on Wednesday morning, she said former President Ronald Reagan didn’t recieve accolades in the early days either.
“Well, I think I would say that when Ronald Reagan was running in 1976 and again in 1980, people said he doesn’t have a chance – ‘He’s too conservative, he couldn’t possibly be elected, he was an actor,’” Bachmann said. “And I think it’s not wise to underestimate people and also to understand where the people are coming from across the United States. They really want something new and different. They don’t want same old same old. They don’t want the establishment. They want someone new and different who is a reformer, who is not a part of the political class. And I think that’s why we’ll see an insurgent candidate.”
One so-called establishment figure did give Bachmann high marks, however. Karl Rove praised Bachmann earlier this month, as Carlson pointed out. But Bachmann said despite raising the eyebrows of some establishment types with her fundraising abilities, she remains undecided on her 2012 plans.
“Well, there’s a lot of factors,” Bachmann said. “My husband and I are both Christians. We’re actually praying about this. We’ve got to know that we know that we know in our hearts that this is the right thing to do, but we were gratified. We raised more money than any other candidate, including Mitt Romney in the first quarter, and small donations. They’re significant because it’s about $45 or less, which means we have a very broad base of support. I’m grateful for that, extremely grateful. But it’s momentous decision. Everything I’ve ever done, we lay the plan and work the plan. So this isn’t rash. We have a big team of advisers and we’re trying to figure out a pathway to success and we’ll let you know.”
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