Minnesota Congresswoman Michele Bachmann considering 2012 run?

Michele Bachmann, a Tea Party leader and popular representative in conservative circles appears to be considering a run for the White House in 2012.

Report from Yahoo News:

Michele Bachmann has become one of the Republicans’ loudest voices. As such, Michele Bachmann will be one of many Republicans under speculation for a 2012 Presidential run. But if she wasn’t on that list before, she got on in Wednesday, when the Minnesota Representative didn’t rule out a run to Greta Van Susteren. She also said that speculation would be premature, yet it won’t stop others from doing it over the next year. But if Bachmann does throw her hat in for 2012, it will likely be a spectacle of some kind.

Since Bachmann is giving a series of speeches in Iowa — where one of the first caucuses is held — it has further fueled suspicion. However, she told Van Susteren that her main goal right now is to “repeal President Obama” in 2012, no matter who’s opposing him.

These kind of proclamations have made Bachmann into a controversial figure, as she is loved by many Republicans, and regularly trashed by Democrats. In fact, she may be the most divisive Republican other than Sarah Palin — and now both of them are under intense scrutiny for their 2012 plans.

If Bachmann does run, then it could decrease the chances of Palin running. Palin is the most visible female Republican, so if she had to run against another woman, it could split her base and that of the tea party. That might make Democrats more eager to see them run, depending on the tea party’s power in two years.

Although the presidential election isn’t for 22 months, the competition has already begun. Now that the 112th Congress has been sworn in, the shadow of 2012 is already hanging over it. For Republicans, they got some momentum back in the last election, and now they look to keep going toward President Obama’s defeat.

Here is Bachmann discussing this matter with Greta Van Susteren on Fox News:

Bachmann has solid credentials with conservatives, she could certainly give most of any of the other candidates a tough time in the early primaries. I have not heard her name tossed about in terms of a top-of-the-ticket possibility in 2012 so this would shake things up even more.