When Michele Bachmann announced she was going to run for the 2012 GOP nomination, I warned the left not to underestimate her appeal. Now we have a new poll showing the exact reason I am worried about this:

Republican front-runner Mitt Romney and U.S. Representative Michele Bachmann led a closely watched presidential poll of Iowa Republicans, the state that holds the first contest in the nomination battle.

The Iowa caucuses, often held on a frigid winter night that can limit turnout to those most committed, often serves to winnow the field of candidates.

So in a little over a week, Bachmann has damn near taken the lead in Iowa. See why I made that warning?