Right Pundits

While the initial rumor that the entire New Hampshire staff for the Michele Bachmann campaign quitting may be false, it is true that at least 2 of her 5 paid staffers did resign suddenly without warning on Friday. Citing frustration with the lack of interest and appearances by Bachmann in the Granite State, Jeff Chidester told the New Hampshire Union Leader newspaper that he and three other paid staffers had quit. One staffer, Caroline Gigler, has reportedly joined the Rick Perry campaign according to WMUR. The other two staffers, Nicole Yurik and Tom Lukacz are also said to have resigned. Bachmann denied the NH staff mutiny during an interview on Radio Iowa. Her national campaign manager, Keith Nahigian, acknowledges that Bachmann will spend more time in New Hampshire, however, the campaign′s main focus for now is winning the Iowa caucus. Bachmann′s former campaign manager, Ed Rollins, resigned last month after Bachmann′s poll numbers began to plummet following her victory with the Iowa Straw Poll. Herman Cain is now the front runner in Iowa.

Since then, the Bachmann campaign appears to be on life support. While still raising over $2 million dollars last quarter, the Minnesota Congresswoman′s numbers have been dropping steadily in all of the major polls. The last few debate appearances have her getting less and less time and questions. During this past Tuesday′s debate on CNN, Anderson Cooper almost signed off without allowing her to give a closing statement.

Bachmann′s short-lived contender status was quickly undermined when Texas Governor Rick Perry entered the campaign. She attempted to knock him out raising questions about his controversial decision on immunizing young girls against HPV, a virus linked to cervical cancer. But her allegations went one step too far since there was an opt-out for parents who did not want their daughters to get immunized. Now, Bachmann is even losing in Iowa, as Herman Cain tops the field in the latest polls, putting her in the single digits and 5th place behind Newt Gingrich.

So it is expected that Michele Bachmann may be in even worse trouble in the Granite State, whether her entire New Hampshire paid staff quit or not. At least 2 of the 5 staffers have certainly quit, Jeff Chidester and Caroline Gigler, who has joined the Rick Perry campaign. Two others, Nicole Yurik and Tom Lukacz, may also have resigned. Bachmann′s national campaign manager, Keith Nahigian, who took over after Ed Rollins quit last month, admits that Michele Bachmann is more focused on Iowa and New Hampshire. Bachmann denied the story by the New Hampshire Union Leader newspaper during an interview on Radio Iowa on Friday. But there is no doubt now that her once high-flying campaign is running out of time and support. Even her front runner status in Iowa is gone with Herman Cain now leading in the polls.