The nation’s recent economic recession has sent the stock market in unpredictable directions, making it difficult to know if an individual stock will rise or fall on any given day.

But right now, Michele Bachmann’s stock is heading north with no end in sight.

The Minnesota Congresswoman has become a darling of Tea Party activists and serves as the chair of the Tea Party’s congressional caucus. It also doesn’t hurt she is originally from Iowa. The only thing lacking is her ability to claim she spent summers in New Hampshire and divided her winter months between South Carolina and Florida. more >>

The Republican Leadership Conference, formally known as the Southern Republican Leadership Conference, is underway in New Orleans and several Republican presidential hopefuls are making time in their schedules to appeal to southern conservatives.

The straw poll conducted during the conference is nowhere close to being scientific. However, it does provide candidates a source of bragging rights if they win or place well.

Conference Director Charlie Davis says the final day’s straw poll is extremely important. “This conference is more like a mini national convention. It brings together core GOP donors and key activists from around the country,” Davis told Fox News. more >>

A Rasmussen Reports survey of likely Republican primary voters asked if it would be good, or bad, for Republicans if former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin, Texas Governor Rick Perry, or former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani entered the presidential race.

A plurality of respondents, 45 percent, said it would be bad for Republicans if Palin entered the race, while 36 percent said it would be good for Republicans. The same percentage favored Perry entering the race, but only 21 percent thought a Perry candidacy would be bad for Republicans.

Though he claimed no interest for months, some close to Perry have acknowledged that he is now reconsidering and may enter the race. Perry is the longest serving governor in Texas and is expected to do well among social conservatives and Southerners. more >>

The starting gate is open and Republican presidential hopefuls, both declared and soon-to-be declared, are off and running.

In a bold and feisty move, Rep. Michele Bachmann of Minnesota took the opportunity to announce on Monday to a national audience she filed papers earlier in the day for an “exploratory committee,” which is the first step candidates must officially take to run for the presidency.

The debate in New Hampshire produced few surprises, but did give viewers and analyst a glimpse into the personalities and priorities of the seven who participated. Issues relating to the economy and recent recession were discussed at length, but the candidates' positions on social issues drew both distinctions and differences between the seven who participated. more >>

“I guess most people, I think, who don’t like Sarah Palin are hoping there’s something in there that will deliver the final sort of blow to her”

The candidates are arriving and the stage has been set for Monday night’s Republican Presidential primary debate at Saint Anselm College in Manchester, N.H.

It will be the first televised debate among the prime contenders for the Republican nomination for the 2012 presidential elections.

Political analysts say the candidate who can turn the economy around will be the candidate who wins the election, but family advocates are calling on Republican leaders to return America to a true and prosperous nation by standing on traditional values. more >>