Bachmann returns to MSNBC’s Hardball tonight

Within an hour of polls closing Tuesday night, Michele Bachmann will appear on a cable politics show, but it’s not her usual favorite, Fox News. She’s returning to Chris Matthews’ Hardball show on MSNBC, where two years ago she stirred controversy by stating that she hoped the media would open an investigation into Barack Obama and members of Congress to “find out, are they pro-America or anti-America.”

Those statements set DFL challenger Elywn Tinklenberg’s fundraising on fire and prompted the write-in candidacy of university professor Aubrey Immelman.

Bachmann later reiterated the claim, telling audiences at an anti-abortion event this March: “I said I had very serious concerns that Barack Obama had anti-American views. And now I look like Nostradamus.”

Tinklenberg sent out an fundraising email trying to capitalize on that statement for the benefit of DFLer Tarryl Clark, who awaits results tonight to see if she can do what Tinklenberg couldn’t — knock off Bachmann.

Bachmann’s appearance on Hardball is expected at 9 p.m. local time.