Will Bachmann sink Coleman, too?

Bachmann's `Anti-American' Jab Roils Republican Races (Update1)

By Nicholas Johnston

Oct. 24 (Bloomberg) -- Michele Bachmann was cruising toward re-election when the Minnesota Republican congresswoman torpedoed her own campaign, and may take other Republicans down with her.

During an Oct. 17 appearance on MSNBC, Bachmann said Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama ``may have anti- American views'' and urged reporters to investigate whether other Democrats may be ``anti-America.''

Since then, Democratic challenger Elwyn Tinklenberg has been flooded with more than $1.3 million of contributions, congressional Democrats promised an additional $1 million worth of advertising, and House Republicans dropped plans for their own ads. A House seat considered safely Republican a week ago is leaning toward the Democrat in a new poll.

``She may have finally cooked herself,'' said Democrat Alan Ciesielczyk, a 62-year-old teacher from Blaine, Minnesota.

While Bachmann, 52, has said she'd like to ``take back'' her comments, aftershocks are shaking up races outside her district, northwest of Minneapolis. Republican nominee John McCain trails Obama in Minnesota polls, and incumbent Republican Senator Norm Coleman is locked in a tough re-election fight.

Bachmann's ``self-inflicted'' damage may drag down Republicans all over the ballot, University of Minnesota professor Lawrence Jacobs said. ``It will not take much of a dip in turnout to have a cataclysmic effect on the races in Minnesota,'' said Jacobs, director of the Center for the Study of Politics and Governance.

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