The Bachmann campaign has just sent out a press blast that will surely get everybody in an uproar. CBS’s just hired political director, John Dickerson, wrote an email — apparently to CBS colleagues — noting that Bachmann probably wouldn’t get many questions tonight since she’s basically tanked in the polls. That’s not terribly surprising — also-ran candidates typically get less mic time in a multi-candidate debate. Except Dickerson inadvertently CC’d Bachmann’s communications director. Big mistake. The Bachmann campaign has now released the email to the press. More shortly.

Late Update: Bachmann Headline: CBS guy just focusing on our flat-lining in the polls.

Latter Update: For some context, the TPM Poll Average puts Bachmann currently at 3.2% support nationwide among Republicans. So she’s creeping up on Gary Johnson territory. And well into Santorum-ville.

A lot less excitement came out of this debate than many of the recent ones. It’s a bit hard for me to say what of great consequence came out of it. With one exception: Rick Perry avoided any major stumble or embarrassment (yep, a pretty low bar but that’s where we are) and even managed, oddly enough, to get the rest of the candidate’s following him on the foreign aid/start at zero idea. Read More

Yet another discomfiting moment in which Rick Santorum is far and away the most lucid and knowledgable person on foreign policy.

Bachmann notes that in China they don’t have foodstamps.