Rep. Bachmann tapes apology ad for Obama comments

[Ron Burgundy]

Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.) has taped an advertisement apologizing for her televised comments calling Barack Obama anti-American, according to a Republican source familiar with her campaign’s decision.

Bachmann campaign spokeswoman Michelle Marston said the campaign will be airing a new advertisement this afternoon, but declined to comment specifically on whether Bachmann would be apologizing in the spot.

“You’ll just have to wait and see,” Marston said.

The move comes as polling, both public and internal, shows Bachmann rapidly losing ground in her re-election bid. A University of Minnesota poll released today shows Bachmann trailing her Democratic opponent, Elwyn Tinklenberg, 45 to 43 percent. Those numbers are consistent with an automated SurveyUSA poll showing Bachmann trailing Tinklenberg, 47 to 44 percent.

Tinklenberg has been referencing Bachmann’s comments in his own advertising this week. His latest ad, airing across the district, replays her controversial “Hardball” gaffe.

“Michele Bachmann represents the worst of Washington, even questioning the patriotism of others in Congress,” the ad says. “General Colin Powell called her comments nonsense.”

Bachmann isn’t the only House Republican ensnared by controversy to make a televised apology. Last month, Rep. Tom Feeney (R-Fla.) apologized for his past involvement with jailed lobbyist Jack Abramoff. Polls show him badly trailing Democrat Suzanne Kosmas.

Another Florida congressman, Democrat Tim Mahoney, involved in a sex scandal, apologized for his misconduct to a local television reporter.

-- Josh Kraushaar and Patrick O’Connor

source: Politico - http://news.yahoo.com/s/politico/20081024/pl_politico/24576 [link]