Michele Bachmann is railing against Ron Paul and Kent Sorenson, who left his post as head of her Iowa campaign effort to go work for her rival instead. Presidential hopeful Bachmann implied that Paul, who is running much stronger in Iowa, bought off her key staffer a week before the state’s caucuses. “Kent Sorenson personally told me he was offered a large sum of money to go to work for the Paul campaign,” Bachmann said in a statement to Fox News. GOP Debate: Paul vs. Bachmann “Kent campaigned with us earlier this afternoon and went immediately afterward to a Ron Paul event and announced he is changing teams.” “Kent said to me yesterday that ‘everyone sells out in Iowa, why shouldn’t I?’ then he told me he would stay with our campaign,” Bachmann added. “The Ron Paul campaign has to answer for its actions.” In response, Paul’s campaign said Bachmann’s Iowa political director “unequivocally stated Kent Sorenson’s decision was in no way financially motivated.” Sorenson attributed his decision to Paul’s higher standing in polls, where he is battling Mitt Romney, Newt Gingrich and Rick Santorum for the top spot. Jesse Benton, Paul’s national campaign chairman, welcomed the endorsement from Sorenson, himself an Iowa State Senator, before the Jan. 3 vote: “Congressman Paul is delighted to accept the endorsement of Senator Kent Sorenson, whose blessing and assistance carry a great deal [of] weight.” “He doesn’t take this decision lightly, which says a lot about the senator and Ron Paul.” He also picked up an endorsement from Kelly Clarkson this week. Can he pull off a masterstroke and upset the field next week? Stay tuned. Ron Paul: The Big Dog!
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Michele Bachmann Iowa Campaign Director Quits, Joins Ron Paul, Denies Payoff
