Bachmann says campaign isn’t ‘imploding’

Michele Bachmann on Sunday sharply rejected suggestions her campaign is foundering in the face of sagging national and state poll numbers.

"Your assessment is completely inaccurate. It's not true at all," the Minnesota congresswoman told CNN "State of the Union" host Candy Crowley after Crowley asked if Bachmann was losing ground. The CNN host cited Bachmann's recent poor showings in the Florida straw poll, this past weekend's Values Voter poll and national polls as possible evidence that her campaign is "imploding."

"We're just starting a kick-off today of four days here in New Hampshire and we've had a wonderful experience in Iowa," Bachmann said. "And we've been in South Carolina, Florida, we've worked very hard and we have very strong numbers in those states and we're looking forward to continuing that." Bachmann added that she didn't participate in last month's Florida straw poll, so campaign observers can't judge anything by her performance on the ballot.

You can watch Bachmann's interview below via CNN and view the "imploding" dialogue at the 7:28 mark.

Bachmann burst onto the national scene in June, announcing her candidacy during a Republican debate in New Hampshire and making a splash with her debate skills. She went on to win the Ames Straw Poll in Iowa in August, sealing her new status as a frontrunner and as a major player in the first-in-the-nation caucus state.

But Texas Gov. Rick Perry's entry into the race greatly diminished Bachmann's stature. Bachmann's campaign manager Ed Rollins, just before he stepped down from his position with her campaign, conceded Perry's candidacy significantly blunted Bachmann's momentum.

At a gathering of conservatives this weekend for the annual Values Voter Summit in Washington, Bachmann was courting a social-conservative base very much in step with her own campaign message. But she came in fourth place in the event's straw poll, tying with former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum.

Bachmann continues to lose campaign staff. Her staff has rejected suggestions the exodus is due to financial difficulties.

Bachmann is one of several candidates campaigning Monday in New Hampshire ahead of Tuesday night's Washington Post/Bloomberg debate at Dartmouth College.

Crowley noted on Sunday that Bachmann's favorability rating in New Hampshire in July was 29 percent in July, but it is now negative 18 percent.

But Bachmann suggested she's not concerned by short-term shifts in voter opinion because she's focusing on the big picture. "We're not focusing on the day-to-day. Because as you have seen with many of the other candidates--candidates go up, candidates go down," Bachmann said. She added that she places added importance on that Ames Straw Poll because anyone in the state can participate.

"It's the most reflective of an actual primary election or caucus and that's why we were excited to win that poll."

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