Bachmann, Arpaio to Meet Wednesday in Phoenix

PHOENIX (AP) - Minnesota Congresswoman Michele Bachmann will meet in Phoenix with Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio on Wednesday, as she and other Republican presidential candidates court the self-proclaimed toughest sheriff in America for an endorsement.

A spokeswoman says Bachmann is in Arizona for fundraisers for her campaign for the Republican nomination for president and that the private afternoon meeting with Arpaio was arranged on short notice.

Arpaio campaign manager Chad Willems says Bachmann has called Arpaio several times and that Arpaio has also received recent calls from Mitt Romney and Rick Perry.

Willems says Arpaio will take his time on deciding on making an endorsement.

The sheriff endorsed Romney over home-state candidate John McCain in the 2008 primary race. McCain won the state's 2008 primary, with Romney placing second.

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