Group calls for Bachmann to quit

WASHINGTON, Oct. 29 (UPI) -- A national conservative organization is calling for Michele Bachmann to quit the race for the Republican presidential nomination.

Ned Ryan, the president of American Majority, an organization that trains grassroots conservative candidates and activists throughout the United States, called for Bachmann to drop out of the race through the group's Web site this week, the New York Daily News reported.

"In Bachmann's case, it is clear that the campaign has become less about reform and more about her personal effort to stay relevant and sell books," Ryan wrote, calling his evaluation "a harsh commentary, but true."

Bachmann, R-Minn., responded to the piece by saying Texas Gov. Rick Perry, who is also a GOP nominee hopeful, was behind the group's posting, calling it a bit of political intrigue.

"This is really a misstep on the part of the Perry campaign because these are Perry supporters that came out. This was a clumsy move," Bachmann said Friday.

"If Governor Perry has something to say to me," she added, "he can come out to the debates and say it."

Tom Basile, an American Majority spokesman, denied that the group was working with Perry.

"Absolutely not and it would be illegal for us to coordinate with any campaign," he said, because the group is a non-profit. "We do not coordinate with political entities in any way."