Campaign 2012: Michele Bachmann

Rep. Michele Bachmann, who made a name for herself on the campaign trail with her fiery rhetoric and social conservatism, announced that she would end her presidential run.

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Jan. 4, 2011

Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.), joined by her husband, Marcus, family and friends, announces in West Des Moines that she will end her campaign for president.

Chris Carlson / AP

Jan. 3, 2012

Rep. Michele Bachmann addresses supporters at her caucus party at the Marriott in West Des Moines, Iowa, after finishing sixth in the Iowa caucuses.

Justin Hayworth / The Des Moines Register via AP

Jan. 3, 2012

Rep. Michele Bachmann addresses her supporters at her caucus party at the Marriott in West Des Moines, Iowa, after finishing sixth in the Iowa caucuses.

Justin Hayworth / The Des Moines Register via AP

Jan. 3, 2012

Supporters of Rep. Michele Bachmann listen as she addresses them at her caucus party at the Marriott in West Des Moines after finishing sixth in the Iowa caucuses.

Justin Hayworth / The Des Moines Register via AP

Jan. 3, 2012

Michele Bachmann greets caucusgoers at the University of Northern Iowa's UNI-Dome sports arena. Under caucus rules, she was allowed to speak briefly to caucus participants. Newt Gingrich also addressed the crowd in Cedar Falls.

Jeff Haynes / Reuters

Jan. 2, 2012

Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.) signs a poster for students from Taylor High School in North Bend, Ohio, during a campaign appearance Monday in West Des Moines. The Ohio students, taking Advanced Placement classes in U.S. history and government, were visiting Iowa and have attended events held by Rep. Ron Paul, former Pennsylvania senator Rick Santorum, former House speaker Newt Gingrich and former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney.

Andrew Burton / Getty Images

Jan. 2, 2012

Rep. Michele Bachmann greets supporters at the Floral Touch flower shop in West Des Moines during a final burst of campaigning across Iowa.

Andrew Burton / Getty Images

Jan. 1, 2012

Rep. Michele Bachmann (Minn.) and her husband, Marcus, sing and pray while attending services at Jubilee Family Church in Oskaloosa, Iowa, as Bachmann campaigns for the GOP presidential nomination. Bachmann also delivered personal testimony during the service.

Win McNamee / Getty Images

Jan. 1, 2012

Republican presidential candidate Michele Bachmann speaks to congregants during a campaign stop at Jubilee Family Church in Oskaloosa, Iowa.

Charlie Riedel / AP

Dec. 30, 2011

Rep. Michele Bachmann waves from her campaign bus as it pulls away in Fort Dodge, Iowa.

Charles Dharapak / AP

Dec. 30, 2011

Bachmann sits with Carrie Kee, left, and Sherri Dolecheck, who said they were just laid off, as she makes a campaign stop at Sneakers Eatery and Pub in Fort Dodge, Iowa.

Charles Dharapak / AP

Bachmann makes an unannounced campaign stop at Sneakers Eatery and Pub in Fort Dodge, Iowa.

Charles Dharapak / AP

Dec. 23, 2011

Bachmann arrives at Uncle Nancy's Coffeeshop to greet supporters in Newton, Iowa.

Joshua Lott / Reuters

Dec. 23, 2011

Bachmann speaks with Charles Kirtley at a campaign stop at Lodge Pizza & Steakhouse in Corydon, Iowa.

Charlie Riedel / AP

Dec. 22, 2011

Bachmann sits on a motorcycle during a campaign stop at the National Motorcycle Museum in Anamosa, Iowa.

Charlie Riedel / AP

Dec. 21, 2011

Irene Smith, from Montrose, Iowa, leans in to speak with Bachmann at the Ivy Bake Shoppe in Fort Madison, Iowa. Bachmann is on a 99-county bus tour of Iowa.

Brenna Norman / AP

Dec. 20, 2011

Bachmann greets a supporter during a campaign stop at the Falcon Civic Center in Independence, Iowa.

Chris Carlson / AP

Dec. 19, 2011

Bachmann makes her way to her bus after speaking to local residents during a campaign stop at the Merry Bees coffee shop in Hampton, Iowa.

Charlie Neibergall / AP

Dec. 19, 2011

Bachmann talks to students and supporters at the Grundy Center High School in Grundy Center, Iowa.

Jeff Haynes / Reuters

Dec. 18, 2011

Bachmann and husband Marcus, left, sing hymns as they attend the Harvest Baptist Church in Fort Dodge, Iowa.

Eric Gay / AP

Dec. 16, 2011

Bachmann answers questions during a campaign stop at the Dutch Bakery in Orange City, Iowa.

Eric Gay / AP

Dec. 14, 2011

Bachmann addresses guests gathered for the premiere screening of "The Gift of Life," an antiabortion documentary at the historic Hoyt Sherman Place in Des Moines. Candidates Newt Gingrich, Rick Perry and Rick Santorum also spoke at the event.

Scott Olson / Getty Images

Dec. 10, 2011

Republican presidential candidates Rep. Ron Paul (R-Tex.) and Bachmann before a debate in Des Moines.

Charlie Neibergall / AP

Dec. 10, 2011

Bachmann gets a hug from her husband, Marcus, after the GOP presidential debate on the campus of Drake University in Des Moines.

Kevork Djansezian / Getty Images

Dec. 9, 2011

Bachmann shakes hands with an employee of the Nationwide Insurance Co. after a campaign stop in Des Moines.

Jeff Haynes / Reuters

Dec. 7, 2011

Bachmann speaks during the Republican Jewish Coalition 2012 Presidential Candidates Forum at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Center in Washington, D.C.

Alex Wong / Getty Images

Dec. 3, 2011

Bachmann has her hair tended to in a commercial break during her appearance on the Republican Presidential Forum on "Huckabee," the Fox News program hosted by former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee in New York.

Henny Ray Abrams / AP

Nov. 21, 2011

Bachmann shakes hands with people before speaking to members of the media outside Trump Tower on Fifth Avenue in New York. Bachmann was meeting with Donald Trump, her fourth meeting with the developer and reality TV star since she started running for president.

Andrew Burton / Getty Images

Nov. 21, 2011

Bachmann speaks to the media after meeting with Donald Trump at Trump Tower on Fifth Avenue in New York.

Andrew Burton / Getty Images

Nov. 18, 2011

Bachmann participated in a television interview before the House went into recess for the Thanksgiving break in Washington.

Mark Wilson / Getty Images

Oct. 4, 2011

Bachmann, center, prays with audience members after a news conference set up by a group called the Faith and Family Council in Des Moines.

Charlie Neibergall / AP

Sept. 20, 2011

Bachmann gets a lesson in meat cutting from owner Kent Wiese during a plant tour of the Amend Packing Co. in Des Moines.

Charlie Neibergall / AP

Sept. 20, 2011

Bachmann looks at hanging beef carcasses with owner Kent Wiese at a plant tour of Amend Packing Co.

Charlie Neibergall / AP

Sept. 16, 2011

Bachmann speaks at the California Republican Party convention in Los Angeles.

Mario Anzuoni / Reuters

Sept. 16, 2011

Children listen to Bachmann speak at the Orange County Fairgrounds in Costa Mesa, Calif. Bachmann appeared on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" and spoke at the California Republican Party convention banquet.

Kevork Djansezian / Getty Images

Sept. 12, 2011

Republican presidential candidates from left: former Utah governor Jon Huntsman, Herman Cain, Bachmann, former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney, Texas Gov. Rick Perry, Rep. Ron Paul (Texas), Newt Gingrich and former Pennsylvania senator Rick Santorum as they prepare to debate during an event sponsored by CNN and the Tea Party Express at the Florida State fairgrounds in Tampa. The debate featured the eight candidates 10 days before the Florida straw poll.

Win McNamee / Getty Images

Sept. 10, 2011

Bachmann talks with Mark Chelgren of Ottumwa, Iowa, while tailgating before an NCAA college football game between Iowa State and Iowa in Ames, Iowa.

Charlie Neibergall / AP

Aug. 13, 2011

Bachmann and her husband, Marcus, rally supporters at the Iowa Republican Party's straw poll in Ames, Iowa.

Charles Dharapak / AP

Aug. 12, 2011

Bachmann hugs a supporter as she campaigns at the Iowa State Fair in Des Moines.

Charles Dharapak / AP

Aug. 9, 2011

Bachmann addresses a rally at a GOP picnic in Humboldt, Iowa. Bachmann campaigned across the state ahead of the Iowa straw poll.

Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images

Aug. 10, 2011

Bachmann uses a $20 bill to illustrate the shrinking value of the U.S. dollar while addressing employees at Competitive Edge, an advertising and promotion product manufacturer, in Clive, Iowa.

Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images

Aug. 1, 2011

Bachmann greets Ellie Joy Matthews, 11, of Kansas City, Mo., as she and her family hold signs supporting a balanced-budget amendment just before the House would vote to pass debt legislation on Capitol Hill.

Jacquelyn Martin / AP

July 19, 2011

Bachmann thanks the crowd after speaking at a political rally in downtown Aiken, S.C.

Rainier Ehrhardt / AP

July 13, 2011

Bachmann speaks with Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa) during a news conference at the Capitol. Bachmann and King spoke about legislation regarding the debt ceiling and military benefits.

Win McNamee / Getty Images

June 26, 2011

Bachmann talks about growing up in Waterloo, Iowa, in front of her childhood home.

Charlie Riedel / AP

June 26, 2011

Bachmann greets supporters after a welcome-home event in her home town of Waterloo, Iowa.

Glen Stubbe / AP

June 26, 2011

Bachmann talks about jobs, the deficit and President Obama on "Face the Nation With Bob Schieffer."

Chris Usher / CBS News via Reuters

June 13, 2011

The candidates at the Republican debate: From left, former Pennsylvania senator Rick Santorum, Bachmann, former House speaker Newt Gingrich, former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney, Rep. Ron Paul, (Tex.), former Minnesota governor Tim Pawlenty and businessman Herman Cain.

Jim Cole / AP

April 6, 2011

Bachmann addresses members of Americans for Prosperity, who are holding a tea party rally at the Capitol to emphasize their desire for huge spending cuts in the budget.

Bill O'Leary / The Washington Post

April 6, 2011

Bachmann poses for a photo as she greets members of Americans for Prosperity during a tea party rally outside the Capitol.

Bill O'Leary / The Washington Post

March 11, 2011

Bachmann walks with members of her staff on the way to the House floor to vote. She has burned through top aides at a rate that stands out even in a place where staff turnover is the norm.