lsanderson | Poor! Poor! Poor! Michele Bachmann! (Reply)

We also have two House polls, one of them noteworthy. In MN-06, Rep. Michele Bachmann has not fully mastered the art of dog-whistle politics. She appeared on Hardball on Sunday and lashed out at Democrats for being un-American. She didn't quite say "Where is Joe McCarthy when we need him?" but to many people it sounded that way. This was supposed to be a secret message to the base to energize it. Well, it reached the base, all right, but the Democratic base. Within 3 days the Democratic base, led by Daily Kos, contributed nearly $1 million to her previously unknown opponent. The NRCC pulled out of her district and the DCCC moved in. Now a SurveyUSA poll puts her opponent, Elwyn Tinklenberg ahead by 3 points. If she had not appeared on Hardball she would have been reelected easily. Now that is suddenly in doubt. The Republican strategy of calling the Democrats un-American and un-patriotic has worked for years, but it may be on its last legs this year. More

Elwyn Tinklenberg: 47%
Michele Bachmann: 44%