ABJ - January 5 - Minnesota Congresswoman Michele Bachmann has withdrawn from the race for the Republican nomination in a bid to become the next President of the United States.

Following the Iowa outcome, Bachmann indicated that she would continue her campaign, noting that she is the “true conservative” who can defeat incumbent President Barack Obama. Bachmann however suspended her campaign the following morning after a disappointing finish in Iowa.

With 6,073 votes, about five per cent, Bachmann finished last among the six major candidates in Iowa.

“I have decided to stand aside,” Bachmann said Wednesday morning, adding that she will continue working toward “the complete repeal of ‘Obamacare’”, describing the Obama administration as “the playground of left wing social engineering.”

Immediately following the results in Iowa, it appeared Texas Governor Rick Perry would also pull out of the race, citing that he would “return to Texas” to assess the Iowa caucus results. Perry finished fifth in Iowa, tallying 12,604 votes, about 10.3 per cent.

However, Perry reaffirmed his supporters via Twitter, stating, “And the next leg of the marathon is the Palmetto State...Here we come South Carolina!”, confirming his continued bid for the Republican nomination and place on the ballot for the South Carolina primary, to be held January 21.

Other remaining candidates include former Governor of Massachusetts Mitt Romney, former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum, former Speaker Newt Gingrich, and Texas Congressman Ron Paul. Jon Huntsman, the former Governor of Utah, has not withdrawn but continues to receive low support from most Republican voters.