Big Shakeup in Michele Bachmann Campaign; Manager Ed Rollins Exits, Says “Legitimately, It’s a Romney / Perry Race” – Video 9/5/11

Big shakeup in the Michele Bachmann Campaign tonight.

Bachmann’s Campaign Manager Ed Rollins is stepping down and will continue in an advisory role. But he will no longer be part of the day-to-day management of the campaign. In the video above, Rollins cited his age and health as reasons why he cannot continue.

However, Bachmann is also losing her campaign’s number two man in David Polyansky:

POLITICO: On the heels of our report that Michele Bachmann campaign manager Ed Rollins is stepping back into an advisory role, citing health concerns, comes word that his deputy, David Polyansky, is leaving the campaign.

“I wish Michele nothing but the best, and anyone who underestimates her as a candidate does so at their own peril,” Polyansky told POLITICO.

But a GOP source familiar with the situation said that Polyansky had “strategic differences on the path forward” with the candidate, who has struggled to gain traction in the last few weeks. . . . Read More

Rollins is now 68 years old, and served as National Campaign Director for President Ronald Reagan’s 1984 re-election campaign that won 49 out of 50 states.

Rollins said Bachmann is “still in this thing” and is now the “third” candidate. “Legitimately, it’s a Romney-Perry Race.”