The Tinklenberg campaign announced Tuesday afternoon (Oct. 21) that the wave of donations touched off by Bachmann's appearance on MSNBC's "Hardball had reached the $1 million mark.
by T.W. Budig
ECM Capitol reporter
One million dollars has flowed into the Tinklenberg for Congress campaign over the last 96 hours since 6th Congressional District Rep. Michele Bachmann checked off the air last Friday (Oct. 17).
The Tinklenberg campaign announced Tuesday afternoon (Oct. 21) that the wave of donations touched off by Bachmann's appearance on MSNBC's "Hardball had reached the $1 million mark.
"You know what, it's going pretty damn well, laughed Democratic challenger Elwyn Tinklenberg, asked how his campaign was progressing.
He knew Friday, said Tinklenberg, that there would be an reaction to Bachmann's "Hardball comments she spoke of Sen, Barack Obama possibly having anti-American views and suggested members of Congress be investigate to check their Americanism.
"What surprised me is how broad-based it's been, said Tinklenberg, saying donations have come from across the political spectrum.
"These are not the heavy hitters who suddenly have gotten involved in the race, he said.
20,000 donors
According to the Tinklenberg campaign some 20,000 donors have contributed to the campaign since Friday with the average online contribution being under $50.
Many contributors don't know who he is, said Tinklenberg, but are taking a stand against the kind of divisive politics they believe Bachmann is practicing. "And I think that's the neat thing about it, he said.
The vast majority of the new campaign dollars will be spent on television and radio advertising, said Tinklenberg.
The extra money will allow the campaign to buy more radio and television advertising at high-quality time, he said.
That the Bachmann story is still alive can be seen in Politico, a national political publication, that published a column from Bachmann concerning her "Hardball comments.
E-mails from Democratic and left-leaning groups out of Washington specifically mention Bachmann one group mentioning her along with Alaskan Gov. Sarah Palin.
"I think it's a disaster, said Tom Horner, co-founder of Himle Horner, a Minneapolis public relations firm dealing with crisis management and public affairs.
Horner, former press secretary and chief of staff for former Minnesota U.S. Senator David Durenberger, said the political disaster for Bachmann began when she agreed to appear on "Hardball a fast-paced, aggressive political show.
"The cardinal rule of political campaigning is don't lose the lead you're leading in, said Horner.
Bachmann was probably ahead in her race, but it's a tough year for Republicans, he opined. "Anything in a close race makes a difference, said Horner. "That's the case here, he said.
Horner, who found Bachmann's comments "appalling, believes her actions since Friday have helped keep the story alive.
"The evidence of how well she's handling it is $800,000, he said, speaking before the Tinklenberg campaign announced the new total.
Went into hiding
Bachmann made a mistake by going into hiding, using staff to handle the situation, and then lastly blaming the media or some other entity for the situation, Horner said.
The public is tired of such reactions, he opined.
Under normal circumstances the initial burst of campaign contributions into the Tinklenberg campaign should have slowed down, Horner opined. "I think by her handling of it she kept them alive and kept the contributions flooding in to Tinklenberg, Horner said.
What can Bachmann do now?
Sit down with local media and talk, but then Bachmann may believe the things she said on "Hardball, he explained.
"There is that, said Horner.
"You can't dress up a person's core beliefs and values, he said.
Bachmann could not be contacted by phone Tuesday.
In Politico Bachmann wrote that she never called liberals anti-American, never questioned Obama's patriotism, never called for "some House Un-American Activities Committee which hunt into my colleagues in Congress.
Liberal special interests
All the liberal special interests from California to Vermont have found a new outlet for their energies and frustrations defeating her, she wrote.
The campaign dollars pouring into the Tinklenberg campaign since Friday are coming from people who actually know nothing about her, Bachmann opined.
But they're willing to donate based on "a few minutes of listening to the political echo chamber, she said.
Bachmann will have a hard time backing away from her words, Tinklenberg opined. "I certainly think she should have been more careful, but it's hard to misspeak a word like anti-American,' he said.
"The fundamental issue here is, is this in character or is this out of character? said Tinklenberg.
"It's very much in character, he said.
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