Bachmann is already buying up airtime for 2014 After a close race in 2012, the Minnesota Republican is buying TV ads 18 months early

Eighteen months before the 2014 midterm elections, Rep. Michele Bachmann, R-Minn., is already buying TV ads for her re-election campaign.

From the National Journal:

Beginning Thursday, Bachmann's campaign will air 31 30-second spots on KMSP, a local Fox affiliate, for $14,565 over the course of 12 days, according to the filing. A Democratic source tracking the buy said Bachmann's total TV reservation across all channels was $85,000. The Fox contract lists Bachmann's buyer as Crossroads Media, an Alexandria-based firm that counts Bachmann among their clients. Crossroads would not confirm the buy, say if time had been purchased on other stations as well, or describe the contents of the advertising; the firm cited a company policy against talking to the media. Operatives with connections to Bachmann would not confirm the buy.

Bachmann, who is facing a host of ethics investigations related to her 2012 presidential run, only narrowly beat out her Democratic opponent Jim Graves in 2012. Graves has said he will run again.