What's Next, Duelling Preachers?

Michele Bachmann has been retooling her campaign. She has decided to add her personal "spiritual ally" to her campaign team.

U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann, looking to boost her flagging presidential campaign, has turned to a longtime spiritual ally, Twin Cities Rev. Mac Hammond, to lead her outreach with the nation's evangelical community. ...

Hammond preaches "prosperity gospel," which teaches that financial riches are the will of God for faithful Christians. He told his congregation that Bachmann has invited him to be chairman of a national faith and family council, but that he is still considering the "possible legal ramifications." He told the congregation he has been Bachmann's personal minister for some time.

Hammond said he has to be careful about his support for her because "the political opposition she faces is very poisonous." But, he said, he and his wife, Lynne, plan to travel with the campaign to "talk about the vital importance of the church rising up to take this nation back."

Rev. Hammond got his congregation into a little trouble a couple of years ago by endorsing Bachmann from the pulpit, something not allowed by churches who want to keep their tax exempt status. The IRS swooped down and audited the church. He's being being a little more careful this time, making it clear that this is his personal work and doesn't involve his church.

Bachmann's campaign has lost a lot of steam, especially with the entrance of Texas Gov. Rick Perry, who is not only another Tea Party Darling, but also another conservative Christian who reminds everyone constantly of that fact. He's already making the rounds to the right evangelical leaders and speaking at religious colleges. Michele is getting right on that track herself, presumably with Rev. Hammond at her side.

So, Michele has a couple of new bases covered. The first, of course, is the Religious Reich which is an important part of the GOP base. The second, in many respects an offshoot of the first, is the "people are rich because they deserve to be" wing of the party (e.g., the Tea Partiers) which doesn't believe the rich should have to pay taxes commensurate with their wealth.

While I don't think it's going to work, it should provide some very interesting campaign stunts from Bachmann's camp, and you know how much I enjoy that.

I might have to go out and buy some more popcorn.