Backman near a finale in IOWA push.

Staff Exits, But Backman still fighting.

Republican presidential candidate Michele Bachmann insists her candidacy is still afloat after two campaign aides resigned from her New Hampshire staff to protest what they said was too much focus on Iowa.

As many as five staffers formally left Bachmann’s campaign this week.

Campaign finance reports show that Bachmann, who has fallen in polls and struggled to raise money, had five paid staff in New Hampshire as recently as late September.

The Republican presidential contender has largely ignored New Hampshire in recent months. She has been focused on Iowa and South Carolina, where her social conservative message has more appeal.

Bachmann said she is hiring new staff and has spent a "great deal" of time in The Granite State. She added that she recognizes it has a special role as the first state to hold a primary, behind the Iowa caucuses.

Looking for that Iowa boost.

It is no suprize that everyone is vying to take Iowa.  Iowa being the first in the nation to have a "primary" (caucus) would give anyone a big boost in the nomination process.  The nation and the media focus's so much attention on Iowa and New Hampshire that to ignore or loose there would more than likely mean an exit to seeking the nomination.

Bachmann is focused on Iowa, which goes to vote on Jan. 3, and despite polling showing her on the decline there, she won the Ames, Iowa, straw poll back in August, which she insists gives her strong momentum.

In the latest University of Iowa poll, Bachmann grabs 4 percent of support in the state where she was born. That's behind Texas Gov. Rick Perry, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, Texas Rep. Ron Paul, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and front-runner Herman Cain, who has 37 percent support. 

In Iowa religion plays a big role.

This is where Backman can show off her conservative religious roots.  Especially her stance on pro-life.

However evangelical activists, Iowa’s most potent conservative voting bloc, are divided 10 weeks away from the state’s leadoff presidential caucuses, and are weighing a number of GOP hopefuls competing hard to emerge as the more conservative alternative to early front-runner Mitt Romney.


Businessman Herman Cain sought to clarify his position on abortion to about 1,000 of Iowa’s most devout social conservatives, after suggesting this week the issue was a matter of choice.

Texas Gov. Rick Perry first took a veiled jab at Romney, who had supported abortion rights but declared his opposition during his term as Massachusetts governor as he was weighing a presidential bid.

Evangelical conservatives have yet to rally around any single candidate in Iowa.  Thats sort of how the rest of the conservatives feel around the nation.  Yep we all know Mitt Romney is going to get the nod for the nomination and but its a hold your nose and vote type of nod.  Not exactly what we where looking for but the best we can muster at the moment.

Oh well, lets see what happens.

Links

University of Iowa Polls