Michele Bachmann (Getty)

Minnesota Republican Michele Bachmann’s outspoken and sometimes controversial conservatism has drawn her an unusual amount of national attention for a second-term House member. But Bachmann’s House office says don’t expect her to rush into statewide politics — even though the state’s 2010 governor’s race became wide-open Tuesday with Republican incumbent Tim Pawlenty ‘s announcement that he would not seek a third term .

“I do not anticipate Congresswoman Bachmann will be running for Governor,” spokeswoman Debbee Keller told CQ in an e-mail. “She is very happy representing the people of Minnesota’s Sixth District in the U.S. Congress.”  

That statement does seem to leave some wiggle room, and, as University of Minnesota’s Lawrence Jacobs noted, Bachmann “is someone who would do very well in terms of the party’s endorsement process.” The challenge for the congresswoman would be winning over enough moderates in the Democratic-leaning state in the general election.