Bachmann skips 40 percent of votes since launching bid– should she forfeit some of her Congressional salary?

Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.) has missed nearly 40 percent of votes in the House since she formally launched her presidential campaign.

Bachmann’s absentee rate, which is significantly higher than the two other House members running for president, could be used by her GOP opponents on the campaign trail.

Bachmann, the chairwoman of the House Tea Party Caucus who has surged toward the top of the Republican presidential field, has missed 50 of 135 votes since formally announcing her candidacy on June 27 in Waterloo, Iowa.

Bachmann is one of three House members seeking the Republican presidential nomination. Both GOP Reps. Ron Paul (Texas) and Thaddeus McCotter (Mich.) are waging long-shot bids for the party nod.

Paul has missed 25 of 307 votes — about 8 percent — since entering the race May 13. McCotter has missed almost 10 percent: 13 of 135 votes since starting his campaign at the beginning of this month.

Asked earlier this month whether she would forfeit some of her congressional salary, Bachmann replied, “No comment.” When pressed, Bachmann said, “I’m not doing an interview with you now.”

Bachmann’s campaign did not comment for this article. Bachmann has said she will not seek reelection to her House seat while pursuing the presidential nomination. But if her campaign falls short, she is expected to seek a fourth term representing her suburban Minneapolis district.

She was one of only 13 House Republican freshmen elected in the blue wave of 2006, and Democrats subsequently targeted her in 2008 and last year.

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