Bachmann Makes New Hampshire a Low Priority

Michele Bachmann's campaign indicated on Wednesday that New Hampshire was low on the congresswoman's list of priorities, confirming the suspicions of Republican activists who have criticized her for failing to visit the Granite State since her campaign kicked off in June.

"Iowa is our main focus right now, secondly is South Carolina,” Bachmann spokeswoman Alice Stewart said in an email to Politico. “We do plan to build on our efforts in New Hampshire in due time."

Bachmann is the only major GOP candidate who has avoided a visit to New Hampshire in recent weeks. Rick Perry stopped by the state on the same day he announced his candidacy in South Carolina. Mitt Romney has also made several visits to the state, and Ron Paul opened his campaign headquarters there last month.

Team Bachmann's decision to hold off on vigorous campaigning in New Hampshire could stem from the congresswoman's dwindling numbers there. In an August New Hampshire Journal survey, the congresswoman polled at only 10 percent, behind Romney, Perry and Paul.

But Fergus Cullen, the former state GOP chairman, said that skipping New Hampshire was a bad idea if Bachmann hopes to succeed on a national level. "I can’t point to a success story of someone who decided to not campaign in New Hampshire," Cullen told Politico.