This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/world-us-canada-16357319

The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Michele Bachmann's Iowa chairman endorses Ron Paul Iowa: Michele Bachmann denies campaign in disarray
(about 6 hours later)
Republican presidential candidate Michele Bachmann's campaign is on damage limitation mode after her Iowa chairman defected to rival Ron Paul. Republican presidential candidate Michele Bachmann has vowed to press ahead with her campaign, a day after a high-profile defection.
Kent Sorenson endorsed the Texas congressman on Wednesday night just hours after appearing at a campaign event in Iowa alongside Mrs Bachmann. Her Iowa chairman, Kent Sorenson, endorsed Texas Congressman Ron Paul on Wednesday night, hours after appearing alongside Mrs Bachmann.
She said Mr Sorenson had been offered a large sum of money by the Paul campaign, which denied the claim. She says Mr Sorenson was offered "a lot of money" by the Paul campaign, an allegation denied by both.
The candidates are making their final pitch to voters ahead of Iowa's caucus.The candidates are making their final pitch to voters ahead of Iowa's caucus.
The Hawkeye state's 3 January gathering marks the start of the six-month period during which each US state will hold primary elections or caucuses to pick a Republican candidate, who will be officially nominated at the party convention in August.The Hawkeye state's 3 January gathering marks the start of the six-month period during which each US state will hold primary elections or caucuses to pick a Republican candidate, who will be officially nominated at the party convention in August.
The blow to Minnesota Congresswoman Bachmann came as a href="http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2011/12/28/cnn-poll-romney-on-top-gingrich-fading-santorum-rising-in-iowa/" >new CNN poll showed former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum surging for the first time in Iowa, while former House of Representatives Speaker Newt Gingrich's ratings continued to slide. Arrests
The same poll put former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney top, with Mr Paul in second place. In other developments in Iowa on Thursday:
Mr Sorenson, an Iowa state senator, said he had decided to switch allegiance because the Paul campaign had reached a "a turning point".
"I adore Michele Bachmann, but the fact of the matter is I believe we have an opportunity to take Romney out here in Iowa and I believe that person is Ron Paul," Mr Sorenson said. Mrs Bachmann, meanwhile, insisted her campaign was "strong", and that it had received many calls of support following Mr Sorenson's exit.
Mrs Bachmann accused of him of literally selling out, saying in a statement: "Kent Sorenson personally told me he was offered a large sum of money to go to work for the Paul campaign." The Minnesota congresswoman alleges he told her during a telephone call this week about a financial inducement from her rival's organisation.
The Texas congressman's team denied Mr Sorenson had been bought. The Ron Paul campaign and Mr Sorenson, an Iowa state senator, again denied that claim.
Mr Paul's national campaign chair, Jesse Benton, said: "The fact that he [Mr Sorenson] doesn't take this decision lightly tells a great deal about the senator and Ron Paul." Mr Sorenson told CNN he wanted to back a candidate who could stop former Massachusetts Governor Romney from winning Iowa.
"It's unfortunate they're resorting to these type of tactics," he said of the Bachmann campaign. "But the fact of the matter is she wasn't going to win Iowa."
The eventual Republican candidate will challenge Barack Obama for the White House in November 2012.The eventual Republican candidate will challenge Barack Obama for the White House in November 2012.
Many voters are concerned by the pace of economic recovery from the recession that started during the end of the presidency of George W Bush and ended in 2009.Many voters are concerned by the pace of economic recovery from the recession that started during the end of the presidency of George W Bush and ended in 2009.