EDGE Providence

Michele Bachmann’s lesbian sister opens up in a New York Times opinion column to talk of her problems with the Minnesota Congresswoman’s strong stand against gay rights and how that has affected their relationship.

So far, the GOP candidates have been tripping over each other to oppose gay rights, from the military to marriage. But is this a winning strategy overall? EDGE looks at unchanging attitudes in a changing electorate.

With its emphasis on Christian prayer, local Iowa fast-food chain Pizza Ranch is the favorite hangout of GOP candidates before the caucuses. But the restaurants have a dirty little secret: The founder was jailed for sexually abusing his male employees.

In a final attempt to appeal to social conservatives, Michelle Bachmann attacked rivals Ron Paul and Mitt Romney on their views on gay rights.

GOP presidential candidates Perry & Bachmann were called out by Iowans incensed by their anti-gay stances, Perry by a teenager about his repeal of openly serving gay military personnel; Bachmann for her ignoring statistics of the number of gay Americans.

Mainstream Republican presidential candidates continue to push the marriage card ahead of the Iowa caucuses on Jan. 3. Is this an effective strategy in an election cycle that the economy continues to dominate?

It seems during the current GOP campaign, many U.S. citizens, both young and old, are not afraid to confront presidential hopefuls and ask them about issues that are most important to them.

The mother of a 15-year-old gay student who hanged himself last year wants her congresswoman to speak out against anti-gay bullying in the schools. But Tammy Aaberg, whose son attended school in Michele Bachmann’s district, might be in for a wait.

A survey at the Minnesota State Fair revealed that two-thirds of that state’s public are opposed to a ballot initiative to amend the state constitution in an anti-gay manner.

Republican Michele Bachmann’s presidential campaign fell just as quickly as it rose. Now, she’s looking to Iowa - at the expense of other early voting states - to get back on track.