Michele Bachmann Fundraises For House Race While More Than $1 Million In Debt

Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.), still more than $1 million in debt from her presidential run, is now funding to defend her Congressional seat in the 2012 elections, according to Minnesota Public Radio.

Bachmann reported bringing in $550,000 this first quarter, during which she also fundraised to retire some of her campaign debts. Her campaign reported having $650,000 cash on hand.

Those numbers are higher than any other incumbent Minnesota House members, but they're down from 2010, when she raised more than $810,000 in the same time period and reported $1.5 million cash on hand. Her last congressional re-election campaign raised over $13.5 million in total.

Bachmann's focus now is on continuing to raise money, not paying down her campaign debts, Minnesota Public Radio reported.

One expert said that Bachmann could worry about paying her bills after her re-election.

"Raising money for old debt isn't much fun," Paul Ryan of the Campaign Legal Center told MPR. "That being said, when someone remains in office they are typically capable of raising money to retire old debt as well as to fund future campaigns because what a lot of donors really want is access to and influence over office holders and they don't much care what the money is being used for."

10 more election stories from beyond the presidential field:

Richard Mourdock's Campaign Under Investigation For Allegedly Accessing Voter Database [WFPL]

Rick Perry Endorses David Dewhurst In Texas [Houston Chronicle]

Wisconsin Senate Candidate Who Opposed TARP Purchased Bailed-Out Bank [WISN]

Josh Mandel Releases New Ad, 'Boots' [The Cleveland Plain Dealer]

Connie Mack III Accuses Florida Newspapers Of Bias [The Orlando Sentinel]

Kerrey Accuses Bruning Of Disrespect [KHAS]

Deval Patrick Making Three-Day West Coast Fundraising Trip [The Boston Globe]

Orrin Hatch Leading In Polls [Salt Lake Tribune]

Nan Rich Announces 2014 Challenge To Rick Scott [South Florida Sun Sentinel]

Rival California Congressional Hopefuls Both Paid Taxes Late [The Bellingham Herald]