The congresswoman from Minnesota and tea party favorite formally launched her bid for the 2012 presidential race.

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The congresswoman from Minnesota and tea party favorite formally launched her bid for the 2012 presidential race.

» E-Mail This     » Add to Del.icio.us

Reuters - Representative Michele Bachmann, a rising star of the conservative Tea Party movement, launched a bid for the Republican 2012 presidential nomination on Monday, buoyed by a strong opinion poll showing.

Politico - "The original tea party patriot" officially announces her candidacy president in Waterloo, Iowa.

Politico - "The original tea party patriot" officially announces her candidacy president in Waterloo, Iowa.

Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.) is running for president in the next election cycle.

The conservative firebrand's star has been on the rise since she was elected to serve Minnesota's sixth congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives in 2006. Bachmann is the founder of the chamber's Tea Party Caucus, she delivered her own unofficial response to President Barack Obama's State of the Union address earlier this year and she's shown that she's not afraid to ruffle feathers within her own party in pushing her political agenda.

Earlier this year, it was reported that Bachmann said her "motivation in life" is to "repeal Obamacare" -- the health care reform legislation signed into law by the president.

In a recent interview with the Associated Press, Bachmann said of her presidential ambitions, "I've had this calling and tugging on my heart that this is the right thing to do." She added, "People want something new and different and that's one thing I've established with my voting record."

As Bachmann kicks off her presidential campaign, here's a look back at some of the Tea Party favorite's most unforgettable moments:

AFP - Michele Bachmann, a favorite of the staunchly conservative Tea Party movement, launched her bid for the Republican presidential nomination Monday with a swing through three key primary states.

AFP - Michele Bachmann, a favorite of the staunchly conservative Tea Party movement, launched her bid for the Republican presidential nomination Monday with a swing through three key primary states.

AP - Michele Bachmann, a Minnesota congresswoman with deep tea party appeal, was ready Monday to officially plow into the Republican presidential primary with a conservative and often freewheeling message honed to the party's base.

AP - Michele Bachmann, a Minnesota congresswoman with deep tea party appeal, was ready Monday to officially plow into the Republican presidential primary with a conservative and often freewheeling message honed to the party's base.

AP - Michele Bachmann, a Minnesota congresswoman with deep tea party appeal, was ready Monday to officially plow into the Republican presidential primary with a conservative and often freewheeling message honed to the party's base.

AP - Michele Bachmann, a Minnesota congresswoman with deep tea party appeal, was ready Monday to officially plow into the Republican presidential primary with a conservative and often freewheeling message honed to the party's base.

AP - Michele Bachmann, a Minnesota congresswoman with deep tea party appeal, was ready Monday to officially plow into the Republican presidential primary with a conservative and often freewheeling message honed to the party's base.

AP - Michele Bachmann, a Minnesota congresswoman with deep tea party appeal, was ready Monday to officially plow into the Republican presidential primary with a conservative and often freewheeling message honed to the party's base.

AP - Michele Bachmann, a Minnesota congresswoman with deep tea party appeal, was ready Monday to officially plow into the Republican presidential primary with a conservative and often freewheeling message honed to the party's base.

AP - Michele Bachmann, a Minnesota congresswoman with deep tea party appeal, was ready Monday to officially plow into the Republican presidential primary with a conservative and often freewheeling message honed to the party's base.

Reuters - Conservative firebrand Michele Bachmann will test the limits of how far a favorite of the Tea Party movement can go when she formally launches her campaign for the 2012 Republican presidential nomination on Monday.

Reuters - Conservative firebrand Michele Bachmann will test the limits of how far a favorite of the Tea Party movement can go when she formally launches her campaign for the 2012 Republican presidential nomination on Monday.

Reuters - Conservative firebrand Michele Bachmann will test the limits of how far a favorite of the Tea Party movement can go when she formally launches her campaign for the 2012 Republican presidential nomination on Monday.

Reuters - Conservative firebrand Michele Bachmann will test the limits of how far a favorite of the Tea Party movement can go when she formally launches her campaign for the 2012 Republican presidential nomination on Monday.

Reuters - Conservative firebrand Michele Bachmann will test the limits of how far a favorite of the Tea Party movement can go when she formally launches her campaign for the 2012 Republican presidential nomination on Monday.

Reuters - Conservative firebrand Michele Bachmann will test the limits of how far a favorite of the Tea Party movement can go when she formally launches her campaign for the 2012 Republican presidential nomination on Monday.

Reuters - Conservative firebrand Michele Bachmann will test the limits of how far a favorite of the Tea Party movement can go when she formally launches her campaign for the 2012 Republican presidential nomination on Monday.

Reuters - Conservative firebrand Michele Bachmann will test the limits of how far a favorite of the Tea Party movement can go when she formally launches her campaign for the 2012 Republican presidential nomination on Monday.