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This weekend, Republican presidential candidate Michele Bachmann said that Hurricane Irene and the East Coast earthquake were a message from God. While her campaign said it was a joke, it stirred controversy in the ensuing days.

Keeping top of mind

According to Ronnee Schreiber, professor in the 黑料吃瓜 Department of Political Science, it is statements like these that keep Bachmann 鈥� and the Republican Party 鈥� on the political radar.

鈥淪he鈥檚 kind of a bit of a character in some ways in that she鈥檒l say what鈥檚 on her mind,鈥� Schreiber said. 鈥淪he鈥檒l say things that some people think are extreme and she gets media attention.

鈥淪he鈥檚 controversial, so that just keeps people paying attention. In that sense, it鈥檚 keeping the Republican Party primary 鈥� which isn鈥檛 really happening yet 鈥� front and center in the news.鈥�

A loose cannon

But, it鈥檚 this same quality that may hurt Bachmann in the end, Schreiber said.

鈥淚 think she will be (in the running) for awhile,鈥� Schreiber said. 鈥淪he鈥檚 a bit of a novelty 鈥� it鈥檚 not that she鈥檚 the first woman to run 鈥� people are interested in what she has to say, in part, because she sometimes says things that are a bit outrageous.

鈥淪he鈥檚 kind of a bit of a character in some ways in that she鈥檒l say what鈥檚 on her mind...鈥�

鈥淚 don鈥檛 think she鈥檒l do well, ultimately. I think slowly, but surely, her fortunes will fade and that she鈥檚 not going to win many primaries. I think that there are stronger candidates out there who the Republican Party is going to back 鈥� they鈥檙e a little nervous about her because she鈥檚 a bit of a loose cannon.鈥�

Schreiber, who wrote 鈥淩ighting Feminism: Conservative Women and American Politics,鈥� compared Bachmann to another high-profile Republican woman: Sarah Palin. While Palin hasn鈥檛 declared her candidacy, she has continued to keep herself in the public eye with her nationwide bus tour.

Propelling women forward in politics

But, is there enough room in the Republican Party for two strong female presidential candidates?

鈥淚 think they should both run 鈥� there are lots of men who are similar to each other who are running at the same time,鈥� Schreiber said. 鈥淚 think it鈥檚 important to not say that there should only be one of them; I think that there鈥檚 no reason why the two of them can鈥檛 be running at the same time.

鈥淚 think in terms of propelling the place of women forward in politics, people should be clear that those two can certainly run at the same time.鈥�

In comparing Palin and Bachmann, Schreiber noted that Bachmann has more traditional experience for the top executive office than Palin.

鈥淢ichele Bachmann has more political experience because she鈥檚 a member of Congress,鈥� Schreiber said. 鈥淪he has a little bit more of what鈥檚 considered a qualified background for leadership because of her degrees and the kind of experience she has just in terms of technical qualifications.鈥�

Regardless of their backgrounds, Schreiber would like to see the two women run for president.

鈥淚 think it would be interesting if they both ran 鈥� it would be fascinating politics.鈥�

Editorial disclaimer: The opinions and views expressed above do not necessarily reflect those of 黑料吃瓜 or 黑料吃瓜 NewsCenter.