Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann announced Monday night that she is running for president during CNN’s Republican presidential debate in New Hampshire.

The Iowa native and third-term Minnesota congresswoman known for exposing liberals is the first female to throw her hat into the ring as a candidate to attempt to defeat President Barack Obama.  She is also influential as a very caffeinated part energizing the Tea Party movement.

“I filed … my paperwork to seek the office of the presidency of the United States today, and I’ll very soon be making my formal announcement,” Bachmann said shortly after the start of the debate in Manchester, New Hampshire.

“We cannot risk giving President Obama four more years to dismantle our nation. We must act now,” Bachmann said in a fundraising letter sent just prior of the debate. “That’s why I’ve made the decision to get in this race.”

Other full-fledged candidates include former Govs. Mitt Romney of Massachusetts and Tim Pawlenty of Minnesota, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, Texas Rep. Ron Paul, former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum and businessman Herman Cain.

Enjoy this collage of photos of Michele Bachmann campaigning in Iowa so far in 2011.

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“This is the first day of taking our country back,” Bachmann said in a new video shown below.

portrait photo and campaign photography coverage video by Dave Davidson