It remains a possibility that Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.) could mount a campaign for U.S. Senate in 2012, the Hill reports.
Amid buzz swirling around the fiery Tea Party favorite's recent fundraising success, Bachmann spokesman Doug Sachtleben told the publication that "nothing's off the table for the future." However, he also said that for now the conservative congresswoman is directing her focus to best representing Minnesota's sixth district on Capitol Hill.
Earlier this month, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reported on the jaw-dropping amount of campaign cash Bachmann raked in during the 2010 election season:
Bachmann raised $13.2 million in the 2010 cycle -- $12.8 million coming from individuals -- and spent nearly $11 million on her successful reelection campaign against state Sen. Tarryl Clark.
And the Minnesota Republican still has $1.97 million in the bank, which is more than many House candidate raise over an entire election.
In addition to the fundraising numbers, another sign surfaced over the summer that Bachmann could be eyeing a run against Democratic incumbent Sen. Amy Klobuchar when she's up for reelection in the next cycle. In June, the Minnesota Independent reported:
Users signing up for Rep. Michele Bachmann's congressional campaign website got a surprise this weekend: the website thanked them for signing up for "Bachmann for Senate." Martiga Lohn, state capitol reporter for the Associated Press found the typo and tweeted the image on Saturday. The Bachmann campaign said the "Bachmann for Senate" address was a typo.
A survey released by Public Policy Polling earlier this month suggested that Republican voters in Minnesota support Bachamnn over a handful of other possible GOP contenders to take on Klobuchar. An excerpt of analysis from PPP:
Given how strongly Klobuchar polls this exercise is probably academic- her opponent seems likely to be someone a lot more low profile than either [outgoing Minnesota Governor Tim] Pawlenty or Bachmann- someone who has nothing to lose by launching a long shot Senate campaign.
According to Dean Debnam, President of Public Policy Polling, "In the Senate race, Amy
Klobuchar should be praying that the GOP rallies behind Michele Bachmann."