michele bachmann,White House in 2012

This is the very first step toward taking the White House in 2012," Mrs Bachmann told a small crowd of supporters outside her campaign bus on the straw poll grounds. "Now it's on to all 50 states."
Michele Marie Bachmann (née Amble; born April 6, 1956)is a member of the United States House of Representatives, representing Minnesota's 6th congressional district, and a candidate for the Republican nomination in the 2012 U.S. presidential election. She previously served in the Minnesota State Senate and is the first Republican woman to represent the state in Congress.
Michele Bachmann is Rick Perry's main rival now in the battle to give Republicans a viable alternative to Mitt Romney. Tim Pawlenty's campaign is on life support. And Ron Paul's jaw-dropping straw poll result showed how much the Republican party has turned toward a robust, full-throated, small government conservatism.
Bachmann’s candidacy is not without potential landmines. Over the last decade, she has taken positions that are dangerous, stemming from her radical ideology. To Bachmann’s credit, she is aware of this, lamenting to Glenn Beck, “I have experienced that throughout my political career, being labeled a kook.”

We did it! I am excited to announce our campaign was the winner of this year's AmesStraw Poll. Iowans delivered a strong message to Washington: America cannot afford four more years of Barack Obama and his failed liberal policies, and our campaign is the right choice to put our nation back on a path to prosperity.

Earlier this week I was thrilled to learn that the IRS has decided to eliminate the two year

deadline in most future innocent spouse relief cases. 
U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.): 4,823 votes
U.S. Rep. Ron Paul (R-Texas): 4,671 votes
Former Minnesota governor Tim Pawlenty: 2,293 votes
Former U.S. Senator Rick Santorum (R-Pa.): 1,657 votes
Former Godfather's Pizza CEO Herman Cain: 1,456 votes
Texas Governor Rick Perry: 718 votes

Former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney: 567 votes
Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich: 385 votes
Former Utah governor Jon Huntsman: 69 votes
U.S. Rep Thad McCotter (R-Mich.): 35 votes
Iowa GOP officials said nearly 17,000 ballots were cast in the straw poll, a closely scrutinized test of each campaign’s organizational muscle in Iowa.

Bachmann won 4,823 votes narrowly edging Paul’s total of 4,671.

Pawlenty finished a distant third with 2,293, while former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum netted 1,657 votes.