MICHELE SURGES – AT 8:58 A.M. ET:  A new Quinnipiac poll out this morning shows a surge for Michele Bachmann, who clearly is catching on in conservative circles.  From The Politico:

Michele Bachmann's polling surge isn't just for the early primary states: A Quinnipiac University poll released this morning shows the Minnesotan is now in second place nationally, taking 14 percent of the vote to Mitt Romney's 25 percent. Bachmann's support has more than doubled since June 8, when she was in sixth place with 6 percent of the vote.

Quinnipiac's results confirm, once again, that there's a big appetite among GOP voters for a more conservative alternative to Mitt Romney. Following Bachmann in the poll are two non-candidates: Sarah Palin, in third place with 12 percent of the vote, and Rick Perry, in fourth place with 10 percent.

Perry's number is, in some ways, just as striking as Bachmann's, given that he hasn't actually entered the presidential race and isn't as universally known.

The rest of the field appears to be spinning its wheels. Here's the rest of the lineup: Herman Cain at 6 percent, Ron Paul and Newt Gingrich at 5 percent, Tim Pawlenty and 3 percent, and Rick Santorum, Jon Huntsman and Thaddeus McCotter at 1 percent or less.

Especially in light of Bachmann's quick rise, it's getting to be past the point where the back-of-the-back candidates can say it's still too soon for their numbers to be cause for concern.

COMMENT:  Stories circulating say that Rick Perry hasn't yet made up his mind whether to run, and that he is still concerned whether he can build an organization and raise the cash this late in the game.  He has apparently, if sources are to be believed, given himself until labor day, start of September, to make a final decision.

July 13, 2011