Video: Bachmann "suspends" campaign

As expected, Michele Bachmann announced the suspension of her presidential campaign after coming in last among candidates seriously vying for a win in the Iowa caucuses. The outcome was inevitable after the disappointing finish, but a suspension still leaves Bachmann some cards to play in 2012:

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The Minnesota congresswoman suspended her campaign, a legal technicality that will allow her to continue to raise and spend campaign funds.

“Last night the people of Iowa spoke with a very clear voice and so I have decided to stand aside,” Bachmann told a crowd of supporters in West Des Moines. But, she added, “I will continue fighting to defeat the president’s agenda of socialism.”

“It is safe to say we don’t see a viable way forward,” a Republican source familiar with Bachmann’s campaign told CNN before the announcement.

Bachmann’s withdrawal is a blow to many die-hard tea party conservatives. The congresswoman, a leading populist conservative in the House of Representatives, has often led the GOP’s rhetorical charge against President Barack Obama’s agenda.

Bachmann made a wise choice, and leaving her options open gives her at least some influence in the race.  While the result of the race is obviously disappointing, I think Bachmann did herself more good than harm in 2011 as a presidential candidate.  She managed to push her way past the “crazy eyes” meme, especially in the last few debates, while still occasionally tripping up on her habit of unsupportable hyperbole.

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Where does she go from here?  I’d suspect that she’ll refocus on a re-election bid for her House seat, but after this year, she will also have more claim to a spot in Republican leadership in the next session of Congress.  Her raised profile will help build her standing with Tea Party activists around the country, and that will make her a formidable critic of Barack Obama in the general election.  On top of that, it will also help her expand her nationwide fundraising efforts, a task at which Bachmann has proven especially adept over the years.  She’s not done by any stretch of the imagination, and she may be stronger than ever as a result.

Update: Sorry, I just noticed the headline problem. I accidentally pasted the tags into the headline field.

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