Michelle Bachmann had opposed the "cut, cap, and balance" budget-amendment that the right has been hollaring for. She opposed it because it wasn't ultra-conservative enough, as it did nothing to dismantle Obama's health-care overheal. In a major reversal, she's now going to South Carolina to sign the pledge. Why is this important?
Because of why she flipped, which has everything to do with Rick Perry; who I predict has the best chance of winning the Republican nomination.
South Carolina is one of the early-voting states. The current governor, Nikki Haley(Repub), just got done joining up with Rick Perry to promote the "Cut, Cap, and Balance" pledge. A day later, Bachmann flip-flops on the biggest policy debate of the moment and for some time. Now, before you start saying "Perry hasn't announced", remember the following;
Rick Perry is going to make an entry into the race.
I'm not going to bother with all of the links and tidbits, but he's making a lot of phone calls and has a lot going for him in the Republican race. He can go head to head with Bachmann for social-conservatives(very strong with them) and the tea-party vote(appeared and promoted the first of their rallies), will have a built in advantage in the south(Barbour's guys moving in that direction, Newt's will/are following), and could probably best expect an endorsement from Sarah Palin. He has proven in the past to be an effective fund-raiser, could probably get all sorts of Koch love(it's friggin' Texas), and his role as chairman of the Republican Governor's Association gives him establishment credentials. Oh, and rumors suggest his wife is enthusiastic about the possibility.
His ties to Neo-Confederate groups are unlikely to hurt him significantly in a Republican primary(especially in South Carolina). His past remarks on seccession, spoken of back in '09, are going to sit very well with the fringes and tea party. The recent and legally-questionable execution is going to sit well with many in the cult/party that is called the GOP. His role three decades ago as state-chair for Al Gore's presidential campaign didn't seem to hurt him significantly in the Texas Governorship primary, and neither did unfounded rumors about his personal life.
So again, I'm outright saying it; barring something huge and dramatic, I expect a Obama-Perry matchup. That would be a fight we can't afford to lose.