Bachmann reports $550K in first-quarter fundraising

Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.) raised just over half a million dollars in the first quarter of 2012, her campaign announced Friday.

Bachmann's $550,000 haul won't set any fundraising records — and seems like a disappointment, considering Bachmann was able to net $13.5 million in her 2010 congressional campaign. But the Minnesota congresswoman's campaign manager said it was still a "strong" effort considering the campaign raised funds for only two out of the three months in the quarter.

"These numbers reflect less than two months of fundraising. We formed the new congressional campaign committee at the end of January and began raising funds in early February," Bachmann's campaign manager, Chase Kroll, said in a statement. "This is highly encouraging — nearly 600,000 raised in under 60 days. That puts us on a very strong trajectory."

Bachmann also spent part of the quarter working to retire some $1 million in debt from he presidential campaign. Events geared toward that effort included a Washington, D.C., fundraiser with Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) and events in Minnesota.

"No other member of Congress is the history of the United States Congress has ever raised more money for election," Bachmann told the City Pages last month. "And I'll do it again this time."

There was uncertainty surrounding Bachmann's congressional reelection bid as the Tea Party favorite fought for the Republican presidential nomination — and saw her district dramatically change in the redistricting process.

Bachmann dropped out of the presidential race in early January after finishing last in the Iowa caucuses, despite having won the Ames Straw Poll and being born in the state.

The Bachmann campaign reported $650,000 cash on hand.

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