Bachmann admits Obama 'misstatement'

ST. CLOUD, Minn., Oct. 22 (UPI) -- U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann, R-Minn., under fire for asserting that Barack Obama may have anti-American views, says she "made a misstatement."

Speaking Tuesday in St. Cloud, Minn., Bachmann backtracked a bit from controversial comments made Friday on MSNBC's "Hardball" show, in which she said she was "very concerned that (Obama) may have anti-American views."

She told a group of supporters that she had misspoken on the show and "I said a comment that I would take back," but Bachmann also contended "a trap was laid" for her by show host Chris Matthews, The Minneapolis Star Tribune reported.

"I had never seen his show before," Bachmann said. "I probably should have taken a look at what the show was like … A trap was laid, but I stepped into it."

The episode has galvanized opposition to the first-term congresswoman, whose seat in the northern Twin Cities exurbs had been considered safe by the Republican Party. Campaigners for her Democratic opponent, former Minnesota Transportation Commissioner Elwyn Tinklenberg, say he has collected $620,000 in donations since Bachmann's gaffe.