US representative Michele Bachmann, a rising star of the conservative Tea Party movement, launched a bid for the Republican 2012 presidential nomination today, buoyed by a strong opinion poll showing.
Ms Bachmann is attempting to establish herself as the main alternative to Republican front-runner Mitt Romney among a crowded field of candidates vying for the right to oppose US president Barack Obama.
"My name is Michele Bachmann, I stand here in the midst of many friends and many family members to announce formally my candidacy for president of the United States," she said.
A conservative from Minnesota who was born in Waterloo, Iowa, Ms Bachmann was only one percentage point behind Mr Romney in a poll of Iowan Republicans on Saturday.
Her challenge will be to gain the trust of voters beyond hard-core conservatives. While she may play well among social conservatives who dominate politics in the early voting state of Iowa, her future is far more uncertain elsewhere.
Reuters