Searching for Bachmann - Maggie Haberman

Cillizza looks at Michele Bachmann's fade from the spotlight since her Ames Straw Poll victory, and the challenge of proving in the next two months that she can be seen as electable:

That’s the question the Republican political class is asking itself: why the Minnesota congresswoman — who seemed primed to emerge as a major figure in the quest for the party’s presidential nomination after her Iowa straw-poll win last month — seems to have slipped backward.

Even her campaign acknowledges that she is on the outside looking in at a developing two-man contest between Texas Gov. Rick Perry and former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney.

“The Perry-Romney race is now the story, with us the third candidate,” said Ed Rollins, Bachmann’s campaign manager.

(snip)

Although Bachmann has seen her star eclipsed in recent weeks, Rollins argued that the next 40 (or so) days will afford her a chance to reestablish her prominence.

“The six debates in the next six weeks will test Governor Perry and give us a chance to recapture some of the attention,” he said.

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Rollins added that with Congress returning to Washington after Labor Day, Bachmann’s “role in fighting the runaway spending will give her many media opportunities.”

Bachmann will be in a difficult position in the upcoming debates - trying for a breakout moment that's also serious, while competing with Perry for attention.

via politico.com