Pawlenty, since failing to stand up to Mitt Romney at the first debate, has become a figure of fun. Palin is obviously the most interesting figure, due to her ability to court media attention and lack of an official declaration. Mitt Romney is the stoic old world Republican who, before the race began, seemed to be leaps ahead of any of his competitors in becoming a genuinely viable candidate with a wide support base.
However, no candidate has come as such a surprise as Michelle Bachmann. At first glance she seems greatly plausible: a mother of five with a law degree and successful career behind her, looking to go into politics to promote the (albeit very conservative) values that are most important to her. Indeed, in the first primary debate Bachmann wowed delivering clear rhetoric that left her more stuffy or confused competitors in the dark. Overall, a front runner has been made.
And yet, Bachmann is now facing the challenges that come with being declared a front runner. The media is now acutely aware of her and as such has turned their scrutinizing eye toward her. It has begun with investigations into her past. Any speech she made in the past is now being picked apart for flaws or contradictions. Take her previous comments on homosexuality, where she compared homosexuals to Satan, rather forcefully in a state senate race speech. Now, clearly foreseeing potential troubles in the final Presidential race she has backtracked on that comment. However, by doing that she has isolated some of her potential Republican primary supporters.
The flaw for Bachmann is that she may have become the front runner too early. Now she has to balance the media scrutiny alongside the competing interests of the Republican base support that she currently needs as well as the more centrist support she will need to attract should she get the nomination. As we saw with Palin the past can affect your politics totally in this day and age.
We will see how Bachmann's past will prove toxic to her race.
