It's Over for Bachmann

Michelle Bachmann has cancelled a scheduled campaign trip to South Carolina and her campaign has called a press conference for 10:00  CT.

Now, I guess she can go back to reading Mises.

Bachmann Fires Iowa Political Director Over His Defense of Bachmann Supporter who Jumped to the Ron Paul Camp

Following news that the then Iowa Chairman for U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann’s campaign for the presidency, Ken Sorenson, had defected to the Ron Paul camp, Bachmann made claims that Sorenson defected for financial reasons.

Both Sorenson and the Ron Paul camp have denied that any monetary payment was made to Sorenson.

The absurdity of the Bachmann claim resulted in Iowa political director for the Bachmann Presidential campaign, Wes Enos, coming to the defense of Sorenson. He issued this statement:

I won’t say much about the situation or the conflicting statements beyond this; I can say unequivocally that Kent Sorenson’s decision was, in no way financially motivated. His decision had more to do with the fact that the Ron Paul supporters have been something of a family to him since he was first elected in 2008 and here in the end, as it becomes more and more apparent that the caucus cycle is coming to an end, Kent believed that he needed to be with them as they stand on the cusp of a potential caucus upset. While I personally disagree with Kent’s decision, and plan to stay with Michele Bachmann because I truly believe in her, I cannot, in good conscious watch a good man like Kent Sorenson be attacked as a ‘sell-out’ ….That is simply not the case, and it was not the basis of his decision.

Following this statement issued by Enos, Bachmann fired Enos.

The sound you hear is the Bachmann campaign disintegrating in mid-air.

(htLewRockwell'sPoliticalTheatre)

HOT: Bachmann's Campaign Chair Defects To Ron Paul

Alexander Burns at Politico reports:

In a shock announcement Wednesday night, Iowa state senator and onetime Michele Bachmann campaign leader Kent Sorenson declared that he is now supporting Ron Paul for president.

Sorenson made the announcement at a Paul rally with veterans here in Des Moines, telling the crowd: "I believe we're at a turning point in this campaign."

Calling the decision to abandon Bachmann a painful one, Sorenson said he felt obligated to join Paul as the "Republican establishment" tries to undermine his campaign.

"I thought it was my duty to come to his aid, just like he came to my aid during my Senate race, which was a very nasty race," Sorenson said, pledging to go all-out for Paul over the next few days.

To cheers from the crowd, he continued: "We're going to take Ron Paul all the way to the White House."

(htRyanUnderwood)

Herman Cain Suspends Campaign

Developing...

UPDATE 1: "As of today, with a lot of prayer and soul searching, I am suspending my presidential campaign," Cain said at an event in Atlanta. "I am suspending my presidential campaign because of the continued distraction, the continued hurt . . . on me, on my family, not because we are not fighters, not because I am not a fighter."

UPDATE 2: In the hours before he made announcement, Cain reached out to some of his rivals, reports National Journal.

"We have talked to the Cain Camp, but we don't want to characterize the conversations," said Alice Stewart, a spokesman for Rep. Michele Bachmann, R-Minn.

UPDATE 3: Cain said he's launching a "plan B" of his public career, a new policy-oriented website called TheCainSolutions.com. He said he will endorse a Republican candidate for president "in the near future," a declaration that had the feel of ending his campaign more than a suspension, reports MSNBC.