Democrats, You're Going to Miss Bachmann

If you're a Democrat who found yourself cheering over the news that Michele Bachmann won't be seeking re-election next year, just stop. Bachmann just pretty much guaranteed the Republicans will manage to hold onto her seat, writes Sean Sullivan in the Washington Post. The only reason she almost lost to Jim Graves in 2012 is because, well, she's Michele Bachmann. But her 6th District is Minnesota's most conservative, and it should be easy for almost any other Republican to win it. "Had Bachmann run, the race would have shaped up as a referendum on her record. Period," Sullivan writes. "Now, Graves does not have the luxury of running against a wounded opponent." More reactions:

• At NBC News, Mark Murray, Domenico Montanaro, and Brooke Brower agree with Sullivan—Bachmann is "probably the only Republican who's at risk of losing that congressional seat"—and also note that "running for president doesn't always help your political career." See: Dennis Kucinich, Chris Dodd, Tommy Thompson.
• Who else is sad about this turn of events? Fact checkers, of course. Back in the Post, Glenn Kessler calls her "a fact checker's dream," "consistently and unapologetically ... fast and loose with the facts." He recounts the four "Four-Pinocchio ratings" she earned from that paper.
• But don't worry, Bachmann won't go far. "Unless she faces ongoing legal troubles, Bachmann will no doubt remain in public life, joining Sarah Palin on the ex-politician/grifter gravy train," predicts Joan Walsh on Salon.
• Also on Salon, Alex Seitz-Wald notes that Bachmann cited a devotion to term limits in her announcement, saying she doesn't think a person should serve in Congress more than eight years. Just one problem with that: When previously asked about term limits, she opposed them, Seitz-Wald points out.

(More Michele Bachmann stories.)