Bachmann Drops Bid for GOP Brass

Michele Bachmann may rule the House wingnuts index, but she won't be ruling the House GOP in any form. The outspoken Minnesota rep and Tea Partier announced last night that she's ending her bid for the GOP's No. 4 House leadership position, reports the New York Times, which notes "that sigh of relief you heard" might well be John Boehner. Bachmann's withdrawal means the presumptive speaker of the House won't have to choose sides between mainstream Republicans and Tea Partiers right off the bat.

“I plan to advance the Tea Party ideals through their listening arm, the Tea Party Caucus,” Bachmann says. She added that she'll recruit Tea Party freshman to caucus with her.