Pawlenty backer disagrees with criticism of Bachmann

One of the three lawmakers supporting Tim Pawlenty's (R) presidential campaign said that he disagrees with the former Minnesota governor's criticism of Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.).

Rep. Joe Wilson (R-S.C.) said that for as much as he supports Pawlenty, he doesn't support his favored candidate's criticism of Bachmann as an inexperienced and ineffective member of Congress.

"I'm a big fan of Michele Bachmann," Wilson said Tuesday evening at the Capitol. "She's a good member of Congress and just a fine, decent person."

Pawlenty opened up a line of criticism against Bachmann earlier this month as the two do battle for voters in Iowa's caucuses. Each is seeking a good performance at next month's Ames straw poll, and the two Minnesotans have engaged in a war of words in the last week.

Pawlenty said Bachmann "has a record for saying things that are off the mark," pointing to her criticism of himself as an example.

Bachmann's spokeswoman, meanwhile, said "there is very little difference between Gov. Pawlenty's past positions and Barack Obama's positions on several critical issues facing Americans."