Contenders

Michele Bachmann Will Form 2012 Exploratory Committee, CNN Says

Tea Party darling moves one step closer to 2012 race.

It looks like she wasn’t bluffing after all… maybe. Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann will form a presidential exploratory committee within months, the first step toward seeking the 2012 GOP nomination, CNN reports. “She's been telling everyone early summer," a source close to the Tea Party favorite told CNN. Bachmann, who is also a strong social conservative, has gained a reputation for inflammatory statements about Democrats. Although seen as a rising star, she’s had notable flops, including her State of the Union response. But is she really running? She also told ABC, “I'm in for 2012 in that I want to be a part of the conversation”—but added that she hasn’t decided whether she wants to be a candidate.