NBC: Michele Bachmann Trying to Overcome Her ‘Flame-Thrower Persona’
Reporting on Michele Bachmann officially entering the presidential race on Monday's NBC Today, correspondent Kelly O'Donnell declared that “step one” for the Minnesota Congresswoman was “redefining [her] public image” by “turning down the flame-thrower persona.” Following O'Donnell's report and taped interview with Bachmann, co-host Ann Curry interviewed fellow Republican presidential candidate and former Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty. Curry asked about Bachmann's chances: “She has been described as being too far outside the mainstream to be president. You know her. You're both from Minnesota. Do you agree with that or disagree with that?” As evidence of Bachmann supposedly downplaying her “flame-thrower persona,” O'Donnell noted how: “Her criticism of the President remains fierce, but more carefully worded.” A clip was played of O'Donnell going after Bachmann's past statements on Obama: “You did say that the President had anti-American views. Was that a mistake?” Moments later, O'Donnell proclaimed that, “Bachmann has taken heat for gaffes and errors on things like American history,” and asked, “Have you been too careless about facts?” Here is a full transcript of O'Donnell's June 27 report: 7:00AM ET TEASE: ANN CURRY: Game changer. Tea Party favorite Michelle Bachmann formally launches her campaign for the GOP's presidential nomination this morning as a new poll shows she's already a front-runner in Iowa. We'll hear from the Congresswoman herself.
Posted by
on June 27, 2011. Filed under