Advisor: Bachmann Likely To Enter White House Race By June

ST. PAUL  (AP) — An aide to Republican Rep. Michele Bachmann says the tea party leader is likely to take the initial step in a White House bid.

Strategist Ed Brookover said Thursday that the Minnesota lawmaker could create a presidential exploratory committee as early as May. The first debates are May 2 in California and May 5 in South Carolina. Brookover says those events are factors as Bachmann decides when to make a campaign official, but adds the debates alone are not going to make her decision.

Bachmann has been traveling to the key early nominating states and lining up support.

Iowa state Sen. Kent Sorensen tells The Associated Press that he would run the crucial first nominating state for Bachmann should she run.

Copyright 2011 The Associated Press.