Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.) and Sarah Palin joined forces at a campaign rally for Bachmann's re-election in Minnesota on Wednesday.
Palin called Bachmann a "fireball" with a "stiff spine" in a speech that was as much about helping the fiercely conservative Minnesota congresswoman win re-election as it was about chastising the Obama administration.
Palin criticized President Obama and politicians in Washington for the growth in the size of government and, as she put it, becoming addicted to "O.P.M. -- other people's money."
Bachmann got in on Obama bashing too, saying that in past 18 months we've seen "nothing less than an economic coup transpire before our eyes."
Earlier, GOP officials said they distributed 10,000 tickets to the event, which was held at the Minneapolis Convention Center Wednesday afternoonaccording to a report from the Minneapolis Star-Tribune.
Tickets to the afternoon rally were free, but admission to a subsequent "Private Reception with Photo Opportunity" with Bachmann and Palin cost attendees up to $10,000.
In a fundraising e-mail sent out Wednesday morning, Bachmann alerted her supporters that coverage of the rally, which was streamed live on her Web site.
Here's excerpt from Bachmann's e-mail to supporters:
I want to let you know that just because you're not in the area, it doesn't mean you can't take part in the event. The rally will start at 2pm CT, and it will be streaming live on my website...Sean Hannity will also be joining us in Minnesota tomorrow, and he will be filming his TV show right from the rally. I hope you are able to tune in and help me make this a memorable occasion!
It's an exciting time to be a conservative in this country right now, and I ask you all to stay engaged and keep up the fight! I also wanted to take this opportunity and encourage you to contribute to my campaign. Let's send a message to Washington this November that Obama, Reid, and Pelosi won't ever forget!