Poor Michelle Bachman. All she wants to do is root out un-American members of Congress (here’s an idea: why not create a House Un-American Activities Committee), and now she’s facing some real consequences for her patriotism.

The first independent poll is out in Minnesota’s Sixth District, which has been put into contention thanks to Rep. Michele Bachmann’s (R-MN) McCartheyesque rant on Hardball last week — and it shows a race that could be tightly contested all the way to Election Day.

The new numbers from SurveyUSA: Democratic candidate El Tinklenberg 47%, Bachmann 44%, and Independence Party candidate Bob Anderson 6%, with a ±4% margin of error.

Oh well. I’m sure Bachman’s willing to make the supreme (political) sacrifice, spend more time with her family, and maybe become a seven figure lobbyist or a highly paid speaker on the wingnut circuit. Maybe even score a gig with Fux News. I wonder if she can wear Caribou Barbie’s hand-me-downs?