Insight: Is Michele Bachmann the Tea Party Candidate in 2012?

Before she even officially announced her candidacy in the 2012 election, Congresswoman Michele Bachmann polled in a statistical dead heat with Mitt Romney. What does the Tea Party have to do with Bachmann's rise and is she the movement's candidate in 2012?

Matt Kibbe, President and CEO of FreedomWorks, Mark Meckler, Co-Founder of Tea Party Patriots, and Jamie Radtke, Chairwoman Emeritus of the Federation of Virginia Tea Party Patriots all joined Happening Now with Tea Party insight. All three agree that they don't think there is a Tea Party candidate yet..

Kibbe says, "We're trying to measure all of the potential nominees based on the same standard from the Contract From America. Do they line up with Tea Party values? And, importantly, can they put together the practical mechanics of a winning campaign? I think that's a test for a lot of the candidates that we know share our values. But it's not just a test enough to share our values, we have to win too." Meckler agrees that there's no Tea Party candidate, saying, "What we're looking for is, we're looking for the Tea Party movement itself to analyze the candidates, to make a mature analysis of their positions, their histories, the things that they're saying right now on the campaigns. They'll make the decision when the time comes."

In reference to Michele Bachmann, Radtke says the Tea Party appreciates her "fearlessness and the fact that she hasn't been beholden to any special interest groups."

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[Dave S]

Don't Vote for Bachmann she voted to extend the patriot act!! She is not a true member of the tea party

[Dave S]

Have to agree with you, I am not a member of said tea party but my views are in line with theirs and I'm a Ron Paul supporter but Bachmann and Ron Pauls views are so different. Bachmann says she wants less power for the national government but says she wants religion taught in school. Separation of church and state is there for a reason. I am fairly certain Ron Paul would not agree with this.

[KesslersCross]

She will never win....not because she shouldnt, just because anyone running in this election is a big joke. Notice how NO one is really getting any attention? That would be because the media WORSHIPS obama. No matter what, mark my words full he will win! I didnt vote for him, he is not my president.

[jovan lakey]

There isnt a tea party candidate WTFFF Ron paul is the founder of the Tea party movement these people are just clowns I gave 20$ 2008 to the tea party for ron paul

[Mike Mazzone]

Check out Bachmann interrogate the commies in the fed. ?watch?v=j43fefDFL2o

[Mike Mazzone]

@TheREALDanontheMoon Bachmann has stood up to the fed and demanded that they not create a new one world currency.

[TheREALDanontheMoon]

She used to work for the IRS as a Prosecuting attorney. Think she's gonna go after the fed? Heh.

[TheREALDanontheMoon]

- Check out Harry Browne. he wrote a book called "How I found Freedom in an Unfree World", it's excellent. he was the LP Candidate in 2000. Mike Badnarik is awesome too, search here on Youtube for "Michael Badnarik Constitution Class", I'm proud to have voted for him. Bob Barr in '08 was kinda meh, he wasn't Ron Paul.