Evangelical leader asked Michele Bachmann to drop out of race

According to Politico, evangelical leader Bob Vander Plaats asked Michele Bachmann to drop out of the race for GOP presidential candidate and back Rick Santorum.

The conversation happened three days before Vander Plaats personally endorsed Santorum.

Bachmann declined, the source said, noting to Vander Plaats that she has consistently polled ahead of Santorum in the race and still does.
Vander Plaats did not return repeated phone and text messages about the conversation Tuesday.

Evangelical, social conservatives have splintered between Santorum, Bachmann and Rick Perry in this year’s Iowa race. That dilution has left their leaders worried about the diminished influence they’ll have on picking the caucus winner, and ultimately, the Republican nominee.

Bachmann’s campaign has not commented on the conversation but noted that she has been endorsed by a long list of evangelical leaders in the state.