It is official. Michele Bachmann could not wait until her planned announcement later in the month. She had to get it out now.  She IS running for president. During the GOP presidential debate on Monday night, the Minnesota congresswoman could not contain herself. Out of the blue, she announced that she has filed the papers to be an official candidate for the Republican nomination.

Just an hour before the debate began, a fundraising letter was sent to supporters about the decision. “We cannot risk giving President Obama four more years to dismantle our nation. We must act now,” Bachmann wrote in the letter. “That’s why I’ve made the decision to get in this race.”

Despite Bachmann’s relative political inexperience, she is relatively well known. She has made some controversial statements and gaffes. She makes frequent television appearances and has proven before that she can raise extraordinary amounts of money. Bachmann is the first woman to enter the race officially.

“Our country needs a leader who understands the hardships that people across America have been facing over the past few years, and who will do what it takes to renew the American dream. We must become a strong and proud America again, and I see clearly a better path to a brighter future,” Bachmann said in a statement issued through her new campaign.

Not to be outdone, former Utah governor Jon Huntsman announced that he will announce his candidacy. Yes, there is where we are at now. Candidates are making formal announcements that they will announce that they are running at a later date. I don’t understand either.  Huntman, who clearly is enjoying announcing his candidacy, also stated on his Facebook page that he is “getting in.” His campaign “leaked” his initial campaign schedule as a presidential candidate. I guess just to cover all of his bases.

The Republican, who served as President Obama’s ambassador to China until this spring, told reporters of his plan in New York on Tuesday. “I intend to announce my candidacy for the presidency of the United States of America a week from today,” Huntsman said during a discussion about China policy with former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger.

Huntsman has been building his campaign for a month. He made his third trip to New Hampshire over the weekend and has been constructing his national campaign headquarters in Orlando, Florida for some reason.

Image Courtesy of  http://www.flickr.com/photos/worldeconomicforum/

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About the author

Erin Chavez
Erin Whitney-Chavez has been writing professionally since 2009. She obtained her Bachelor of Arts from St. Bonaventure University and received a Master of Arts in mental-health counseling from Argosy University. Erin Whitney-Chavez is a licensed mental health counselor and has worked in the mental-health field for more than 10 years.