Michele Bachmann's political rise
Rep. Michele Bachmann, R-Minn., has only been serving Congress for two terms, but the GOP presidential candidate has quickly become a favorite among Tea Party voters and social conservatives. Bachmann, who launched the House Tea Party Caucus last year, has been a vocal critic of the Obama administration and a leading anti-health care voice around the Capitol. She is also a prolific fundraiser and is able to use the Tea Party label to her financial advantage. Still, Bachmann's aggressive rhetoric and posture have earned her comparisons to the most divisive aspects of Sarah Palin - and some of her conservative positions might hurt her in a general election contest.
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