And this summer, one of the few polls conducted in the race showed that Bachmann held a 13-point lead over Tinklenberg.
But on Wednesday, the National Republican Congressional Committee pulled all of its TV advertising supporting Bachmann in the 6th District, according to a GOP source. Since her "Hardball" appearance, Bachmann's lawn signs have been vandalized. Callers spew profanity at volunteers and obscenities about the congresswoman at her district campaign office.
Bachmann has retreated from her statements at nearly every campaign stop. She blamed the brouhaha on falling into a "trap" she said Matthews laid for her, and on having her words twisted by bloggers.
"This has been a game of telephone gone into overdrive -- nothing more," said Bachmann spokeswoman Michelle Marston. "A week ago, our competitor had no name identification. If they think that they'll win by throwing a million dollars' worth of mud, I can tell you right now it won't be enough."
Marston said Bachmann's campaign also had seen a jump in contributions, from sympathetic donors who feel she's being unfairly targeted. But Marston said she didn't know the specific amount.
At the time Bachmann was on "Hardball," Tinklenberg was watching a college hockey game and stumping for votes in the bleachers. The cheers drowned out the sound of his cellphone ringing.
"By the time I looked at it, my voice mail was full," said Tinklenberg, 58, who served as Gov. Jesse Ventura's transportation commissioner from 1999 to 2002 and now works as a transportation consultant.
"It was family, friends, neighbors, supporters," Tinklenberg said. "Everyone was asking, 'Did you see what she said?' "
Since then, the campaign -- whose eight staff members had gone Dumpster-diving for office furniture and the wire wickets used for lawn signs -- has become flush.
The majority of the funds have come electronically. Of the more than 20,000 online donations, 3,210 came from Minnesota. An additional 2,405 people donated from California, and 2,330 from Texas.
Thousands of people have called the campaign office, offering up their credit card numbers. Some gave the maximum $2,300, but most offered far smaller amounts, $3 or $5, along with a message of support and an apology for not being able to give more.
