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Wednesday, June 8, 2011

UK: Watching American politics, focus on Bachmann and Palin

The Telegraph

Sarah Palin and Michele Bachmann head for 2012 'cat fight'
The first shots have been fired in what could become an ugly battle between Sarah Palin and her potential rival Michele Bachmann for the Republican presidential nomination.
By Toby Harnden


Mrs Bachmann, a congresswoman since 2007, has spoken warmly of Mrs Palin, the former Alaska governor, in the past and the pair have strong ideological affinities as well as a physical resemblance and rhetorical style.

But Bachmann aides appear to have calculated that there is not enough room on the stage for the two women as the race to win the chance to unseat President Barack Obama next November hots up.

Ed Rollins, the new campaign manager to Mrs Bachmann, has ventured to criticise Mrs Palin saying: "Sarah has not been serious over the last couple of years. She got the vice presidential thing handed to her. She didn't go to work in the sense of trying to gain more substance. She gave up her governorship."

Mr Rollins, a seasoned political operative, said that the Minnesota congresswoman was the "best communicator" in the 2012 field and contrasted her experience with that of Mrs Palin.

"Michele Bachmann and others [have] worked hard, she has been a leader of the Tea Party, which is a very important element here. She has been an attorney. She has done important things with family values."

A Republican consultant who declined to be named because he is aligned with a rival camp, said: "The claws are out. It's the cat fight everyone has been waiting for – Queen Sarah being taken on by the Palin mini-me."

For the rest of the story:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/sarah-palin/8564344/Sarah-Palin-and-Michele-Bachmann-head-for-2012-cat-fight.html

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