Rep. Michele Bachmann's Chief of Staff Andy Parrish is leaving his job in her congressional office to take an "exciting new position" with Bachmann — the clearest sign yet that the Minnesota Republican is going to run for president.

Parrish, in an e-mail to Bachmann staffers, did not come out and say what his new position would be, but it's likely he will become campaign manager for Bachmann's presidential bid.

"I will be able to tell you more about what I am doing in the near future," he wrote. "I will reach out to each of you directly to talk to you more about this."

Bachmann has hinted in recent days that she's going to run for the White House, telling reporters that her announcement will be coming in her hometown of Waterloo, Iowa, in June.

Bachmann spokesman Doug Sachtleben said that Parrish is taking a temporary leave of absence from her congressional office.

Parrish, who has served as Bachmann's campaign manager on her 2010 congressional campaign, has been Bachmann's chief aide over the past few months as she's traveled to Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina and other states preparing for a presidential run.

He was with Bachmann when she first ran for Congress in 2006 and returned to her office in 2010.