NORTH CONWAY, N.H. (AP) - Republican presidential hopeful Michele Bachmann says her unsuccessful fight against raising the federal debt ceiling kept her away from New Hampshire for nearly four months, but she's still committed to winning over voters in the key early primary state.

Bachmann, who started a four-day bus trip Sunday, has only campaigned in New Hampshire once since announcing her campaign.

Speaking to a small crowd in North Conway, she said voters haven't seen her much because her first duty was to remain in Washington and oppose raising the debt ceiling. The vote on that issue happened Aug. 2.

Though the latest poll of likely GOP primary voters puts Bachmann at just 2 percent, she says she's committed to the Live Free or Die state and plans to compete there.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)

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