Michelle Bachmann

Minnesota may turn out to be the most promsing of all the "blue" states, barring perhaps the traditional McCain playground of New Hampshire. A recent poll shows McCain within 5 points there and Coleman regaining the lead for the Senate

http://hughhewitt.townhall.com/blog/g/688a8abb-f1a6-4ef1-a588-63fcb2b3bed1

Now MN's 10 EV's aren't PA's 21, but it still seems like PA is further out of reach than this despite immense effort brought to bear by the McCaniacs.  Besides, Obama has pretty much thought MN was in his corner previously.

MN is also a state where Palin's outdoorswomen background could be expected to be a plus; besides she sounds like the police chief in this famous movie. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fargo_(film).

It will be interesting to see if McCain or Palin make any appearances here over the last week. Certaintly Norm Coleman and Michelle Bachmann could use the help in the final days.

This Red State criticism of the NRCC and Tom Cole seems misplaced...

Now, in the height of all douchebaggery, [Tom Cole] has pulled all funding from Michelle Bachmann's very winnable race in Minnesota, in which she is presently leading, though not by a great deal. [...] Apparently we have Republicans to spare.

I'm certainly in favor of major reforms within Republican organizations - and I'm not inclined to defend anybody who supports Rep. Don Young - but there are less than two weeks left untl the election and money is not an unlimited resource.  Allocation decisions have to be made.  If Red State wants Rep. Bachmann to get more money, then some other candidate has to get less.  Which Republican does Red State think we have to spare?

What's more...

• Michelle Bachmann recently reported "$1.37 million in cash on hand".  She's got money; she can fund her own race. 
• The DCCC is outspending the NRCC by about 4-1.  The NRCC can't afford to keep up with them everywhere, particularly when the NRCC has dozens of open seats to defend and the DCCC only a few.  The NRCC has to fund the candidates who aren't already sitting on large piles of money.
  
• In any event, Tom Cole is legally prohibited from coordinating with the NRCC's independent expenditure wing.  It's not his call.

Perhaps a case can be made for supplementing Bachmann's $1m+ out of very scarce NRCC funds.  "Tom Cole is a douchebag" isn't that case.

UPDATE

The NRCC has issued a response on this story.  Their response is posted below the fold.