Michele Bachmann Calls Unspecified Fellow Republicans 'Frugal Socialists

With her presence in the campaign a shell of what it once was, Republican presidential candidate Michele Bachmann appears to be attempting to identify herself as the most conservative Republican in the field. In her remarks this morning at the Family Research Council, Bachmann reaffirmed a catch phrase she has used of late to characterize her fellow Republican candidates for president, POLITICO notes Bachmann's remarks:

"'Unfortunately for too many Republicans, they also aspire to be frugal socialists,' she said. 'We can't preserve liberty if the choice is between a frugal socialist and an out-of-control socialist.'"

CNN writes that the jab was apparently aimed at current GOP frontrunner Mitt Romney, based off her comment; "The reason President Obama and some Republicans can get behind socialized medicine is because they share the same core political philosophy about the purpose of government."

When pressed by POLITICO's Reid Epstein for specification of which candidates where "frugal socials," Bachmann said that it is "part of the puzzle you to figure out":

In regards to the rest of her remarks, CNN's Peter Hamby says Bachmann portrayed herself as "the candidate you can trust in office," on a host of issues from abortion, taxes, same-sex marriage, foreign aid to the federal judiciary.