Bachman to appear at Columbia Tea Party rally
U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann, R-Minn., -- a potential 2012 Republican presidential candidate -- will speak at the Columbia Tea Party's State House rally on April 18, according to the group.
Bachmann, an outspoken opponent of federal spending and the national health-care law, is one of the national faces of the Tea Party. Bachmann flirted with announcing a presidential run last month, before saying she will make a decision later this year.Columbia Tea Party spokesman Allen Olson said he hopes Bachmann will bring star power and attention to the rally, which, last spring, helped boost Gov. Nikki Haley's gubernatorial primary campaign."I'm excited. It's a big name, and I hope she drives a lot (of people) to the rally," he said.Olson said South Carolinians admire Bachmann, who some political pundits have characterized as a fringe political figure.