Bachmann Stresses Return to Conservatism in Speech

Republican presidential candidate Michele Bachmann appeared in Lexington, S.C. this afternoon during her second of three stops in South Carolina.

Bachmann spoke for about 20 minutes outside the on Old Chapin Road, stressing her conservative roots and her desire to move the country away from the leadership of President Barack Obama.  More than 200 people came out to show their support.

Bachmann stressed conservative values, reminding the crowd of her Tea Party background. She also emphasized her family's military background and promised to defend the country.

America needs a fiscally conservative president, Bachmann said. 

"We can't afford four more years of an unconstitutional government takeover of healthcare," she said, referring to Barack Obama's health care bill. 

The crowd in Lexington chanted with Bachmann, agreeing to make Obama a "one term president." 

She made it clear that she didn't agree with Obama's handling of healthcare, the national debt, Israel and abortion, but she didn't go into much detail on those issues. 

Bachmann's campaign bus pulled into the parking lot of the Flight Deck around 12:45 p.m. She opened her speech by challenging traditional political crutches like teleprometers.

"I just want you to know that when I'm in the White House, there will be no teleprompters," she said. "I believe the people of the United States can handle the unvarnished truth." 

The crowd varied in age, ranging from children in strollers to older men and women.  Many of the spectators lived in Lexington, including Anne Bull, who said she thought Bachmann drew a good crowd despite limited publicity before the event.

"I think it went great," Bull said. "She was dynamic, well-spoken and grounded in her beliefs."

Anita Sherer of Lexington County said she came because her sister had given her a magazine with Bachmann on the cover, which she read closely.

"I like everything about her," Sherer said. "She has strong family values, believes in marriage between a man and a woman ... just old traditional things we want to believe in strongly."

Richard and Marilyn Treme of Lexington arrived at the end of Bachmann's visit, but said they knew what they wanted from their candidate.

"We would support anybody against Barack Obama," Richard Treme said. "We know what [Bachmann] is all about. She'd be very acceptable as a candidate and as president."