Bachmann tells supporters she's staying in race

WEST DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Michele Bachmann told a small group of supporters Tuesday night that she's staying in the presidential race as the only true conservative who can defeat the sitting president, despite a bleak showing in the Iowa caucuses.

The Minnesota congresswoman was running in last place among six candidates as returns came in from the nation's first Republican presidential nominating contest. But she told an anemic crowd of just a few dozen supporters, "There are many more chapters to be written on the path to our party's nomination."

"I believe that I am that true conservative who can and who will defeat Barack Obama in 2012," she said.

"What we need is a fearless conservative, one with no compromises on their record on spending on health care on crony capitalism on defending America on standing with our ally Israel," she said.

Shortly before Bachmann spoke, her campaign manager suggested she might leave the race. Asked if he could say with certainty whether she would go forward with her candidacy, Bachmann campaign manager Keith Nahigian told The Associated Press in a telephone interview, "I don't know yet."