Tea Party Express backs Bachmann

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SACRAMENTO, Dec. 27 (UPI) -- The Tea Party Express offered support to Rep. Michele Bachmann's bid to be the Republican Party's presidential nominee, but stopped short of an endorsement.

The Tea Party Express, in a statement, said that while it hasn't endorsed any candidate, it was committed to backing the conservative candidate who could best defeat President Obama in November, Roll Call reported Monday.

"While the Tea Party Express has not endorsed a presidential candidate at this time, Michele Bachmann [R-Minn.] garners strong Tea Party support because of her work and commitment to restoring fiscal responsibility to Washington, D.C.," Tea Party Express Chairman Amy Kremer said.

The Sacramento, Calif.-based group advocated for a competitive primary, beginning with the Jan. 3 Iowa caucuses.

"In order to develop the best candidate, we must allow for a competitive process in Iowa and the early primary and other caucus states," Kremer said. "Let's let the voters in Iowa choose the leading candidates to go forward from the many excellent candidates we have."