Minnesota Congresswoman Michele Bachmann will kick off her campaign for the White House with a homecoming event in a northeast Iowa dance hall.
Bachmann lived in Waterloo until she was in the sixth grade and she has stressed her Iowa roots in political appearances in Iowa over the past two years. Bachmann’s inviting the public to the Electric Park Ballroom on the National Cattle Congress fairgrounds in Waterloo this Sunday for a campaign event, staged on the eve of her formal entry into the presidential race.
“This has a great deal of memories for me,” Bachmann said of the venue. “As a young girl we went to the Cattle Congress every year as a family and my parents, while they were dating and after they were married, often danced at the Electric Park Ballroom, so this is a great, wonderful memory. I’ll be joined by family and friends. And this is an event that we are inviting all of Iowa to attend.”
Bachmann will deliver a formal campaign “announcement” speech on Monday morning in Waterloo.
“I want to be there to recognize and thank the people of Iowa for everything they have given to me and in particular their morals, their values, their character qualities because that has served me throughout my life,” Bachmann said this morning during a telephone conference call. “…It’s guided me as a mother, as a businesswoman, as a tax lawyer, as a foster parent. It’s guided me as a member of congress and those values will guide me as president of the United States.”
Bachmann will visit New Hampshire and South Carolina next week before returning to campaign in Iowa over the 4th of July weekend.
“This is an Iowan who wants to take an Iowa voice to the White House,” Bachmann said. “It’s historic and I would like Iowa to be a part of this and come along with me on this journey.”
Bachmann also announced this morning that she plans to participate in the Iowa Republican Party’s Straw Poll this August.
Listen to Bachmann speak with Iowa reporters: BachmannCall