T.W. Budig
ECM Capitol Reporter

State Sen. Michele Bachmann has declared her candidacy for Congress in the 6th Congressional District.

Bachmannís announcement on Monday comes three days after 6th District Congressman Mark Kennedy, R-Watertown, announced his bid for U.S. Senate.

Bachmann, 48, a second-term Republican who has gained high media visibility in her push for a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage and efforts to eliminate the Profile of Learning, made her announcement at a Capitol press conference.

ìThe views of the people across the district and my views are very, very compatible,î Bachmann said.

ìI love the average Minnesotan,î Bachmann said. ìI love being from Lake Woebegone.î

Bachmann was the first Republican candidate to formally announce a bid for Congress in the 6th District ó she beat Rep. Jim Knoblach, R-St. Cloud, House Ways and Means Chairman, by about an hour.

Bachmannís plan

In announcing, Bachmann spoke of taxes, safeguarding local control of schools, Homeland Defense and Social Security.

ìI plan to go to Washington D.C. and help the president work on Social Security reform,î Bachmann said, expressing interest in privatization of the federal program for younger people.

Bachmann also cited her anti-abortion stance and support for banning same-sex marriage ó she sees the need for both federal and state constitutional amendments.

She would abide by the district convention endorsement, Bachmann said.

Indeed, she would support Kennedy if he elected to run again for Congress in the 6th, she said.

Her campaign had been preparing for about seven weeks, Bachmann said.

ìI think for everyone it feels very, very early,î Bachmann said of her decision, explaining that her campaign keyed on Kennedyís actions in timing the moment.

Bachmann expects to need to raise as much as $2 million for a Congressional race.

ìI think that would be fun,î she said of fundraising.

Bachmann first won election in 2000, defeating former Republican State Sen. Gary Laidig in the Republican primary to go on to win the general election.

In 2004, in a redistricting matchup, Bachmann defeated former DFL Sen. Jane Krentz in a strong showing.

Bachmann and her husband Marcus are long-time residents of Washington County. They have five children.

A tax attorney by profession, Bachmann attended the Anoka-Hennepin School District, growing up in Anoka.

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