• Ed Rollins,  Michele Bachmann,  President 2012,  Sarah Palin

    President 2012: Michele Bachmann Hones Strategy and Orders Ed Rollins to Apologize to Sarah Palin

    U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN) speaks during the Republican Leadership Conference in New Orleans, Louisiana June 17, 2011

    Michele Bachmann is making some very smart moves.

    Since being elected to Congress in 2006, Bachmann has been one of the most outspoken — and controversial — members of the House. She’s also shown a tendency to veer wildly off message — as she did in 2008 when she suggested then Senator Barack Obama might harbor “anti-American” views.

    Bachmann’s newly installed political team has had its own battles with message discipline — typified by campaign manager Ed Rollins’ recent comments alleging that former Alaska governor Sarah Palin hasn’t been “serious” over the last few years.

    After the incident, Bachmann was “very firm” with Rollins, according to an adviser to the congresswoman, telling him this should not happen again and that there should be “no more press”. Bachmann also demanded that Rollins call the Palin people and apologize. “She is definitely not tone deaf,” the source added.

    Bachmann’s move to limit her exposure in the wake of her debate performance is a smart strategy designed to avoid accidentally trampling on the momentum she built with that performance.

    The question for Bachmann — as it is for all candidates who have never been subjected to the intense scrutiny of a presidential race — is whether she can maintain that message discipline over the grinding months on the campaign trail to come.

    Message discipline is something Sarah Palin has never been able to grasp and to her detriment – as her negative favorable polling demonstrates. But, if Bachmann can refine her message and concentrate on defeating Romney, she may find far better success than any of the pundits would have predicted a few months ago. She is a natural for Iowa and South Carolina and NO other GOP candidate can come close to competing with her in those states.

    And, Ed Rollins, while very capable and who has a track record of success, does have a habit of running off at the mouth. Putting the brakes on Rollins, while ingratiating yourself to Sarah Palin who, if she does not run, WILL do events and fundraising for you is a no-brain decision.

    It’s a near-certainty that Bachmann will slip as she did when she suggested that the battle of Lexington and Concord was fought in New Hampshire.

    An isolated error or misstep here and there is to be expected and will be committed by every candidate in the field — including President Obama. (Remember arugula!)

    But, for Bachmann the bar will be higher (or lower depending on where you are standing) since there is a narrative ready and waiting to be written — because of her past public flubs — that she is too prone to straying off message to win the nomination.

    That is a dangerous storyline for Bachmann. To her credit, she seems to grasp that fact and is taking steps to counteract it.

  • Day By Day,  Ed Rollins,  Michele Bachmann,  President 2012

    Day By Day June 9, 2011 – Pains

    Day By Day by Chris Muir

    Ed Rollins who successfully ran Ronaled Reagan’s re-election campaign is an experienced political operative. But, he does have a history of working for POLS and then kissing and telling after the campaign blows up e.g. Florida’s Katherine Harris and Arianna/Michael Huffington.

    Michele Bachmann will have to watch her back with Rollins but he may lead her to success, if given the chance.

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  • Day By Day,  Ed Rollins,  John McCain,  Sarah Palin

    Day By Day December 2, 2010 – Cut Out the Middleman

    Day By Day by Chris Muir

    Sarah Palin and American voters care wit not what Ed Rollins, now a CNN media pundit has to say. Rollins who ran Ronald Reagan’s re-election campaign in 1984 and who lately ran Mike Huckabee’s 2008 failed Presidential campaign is flailing about as usual. He really does not have to remind us about Reagan’s past and his legacy.

    Sarah Palin is NOT Ronald Reagan.

    Does Sarah Palin hold the same or very similar views on the role of government?

    You betcha.

    I remind Ed Rollins and other “establishment” Republican types is that the 2012 Presidential nomination will be decided the old fashion way – by voting in elections. Everything else by the pundits, like Rollins, is nothing but HOT AIR.

    Here is John McCain on Sarah Palin and Reagan:

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