6th District CongresswomanMichele Bachmann says she won’t be actively running for re-election while she’s seeking the GOP nomination for president, but the 2012 political calendar makes it easy for her to change her mind.

On Monday night, Bachmann announced she was running for president had her campaign said she was no longer actively seeking re-election in Minnesota’s 6th Congressional District. The June 5, 2012, deadline falls well after the key early presidential nominating contests in Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada and South Carolina; but it’s before the Republican National Convention in Florida in August.

If she stumbles in the primaries, state law would allow her to discontinue her presidential campaign and file for re-election to the House by the deadline. That could discourage other Minnesota candidates. Former republican candidate for Governor, Tom Emmer, has expressed interest in 6th District seat.  There’s been no word from Tarryl Clark’s camp yet, she challenged Bachmann in 2010, but has filed to run in Minnesota’s 8th District.