Bachmann's comments spur opponent's fundraising spurt

By JEANNINE AQUINO , Star Tribune

Last update: October 19, 2008 - 7:04 AM

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A spokesman for DFLer Elwyn Tinklenberg's congressional campaign said a "fire" had been lit after his opponent criticized Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama.

John Wodele said Saturday night that 9,000 people nationwide have donated roughly $450,000 in the 24 hours since Rep. Michele Bachmann told Chris Matthews of MSNBC that Obama "may have anti-American views."

"Momentum has been going our way, but her appearance and what she said on "Hardball" just sort of accelerated this fire that has been lit under our campaign already," Wodele said.

The campaign had received 600 e-mails as of 3 p.m. Saturday after her appearance, he said.

The Republican's comments came in a 13-minute interview during which she asserted that Obama has a close connection to 1960s radical William Ayers, a theme of recent remarks by GOP presidential candidate John McCain and his running mate, Sarah Palin.

Later, when asked by Matthews whether she believes that Obama may have anti-American views, Bachmann replied, "Absolutely. I'm very concerned that he may have anti-American views."

Tinklenberg, on the website "Daily Kos," said the past few hours have been "nothing short of astounding."

"Since Congresswoman Michele Bachmann appeared on MSNBC's "Hardball" earlier tonight, there's been a deluge of support unlike anything we have seen ... our phones haven't stopped ringing," he wrote.

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