Michele Bachmann

U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann of Minnesota, enjoying a surge of support in her bid for the Republican presidential nomination, tore into President Barack Obama and Republican front-runner Mitt Romney in a speech she made to pro-life activists Friday in Jacksonville.

After a strong performance in a debate against fellow Republican presidential candidates earlier in the month, Bachmann is surging in national and state polls. She pitched her candidacy to activists attending the National Right-to-Life Committee’s (NRLC) annual convention, noting that she has always been an opponent of abortion.

Speaking to the convention via Skype -- because congressional votes kept her in Washington -- Bachmann ripped Obama as the “most pro-abortion president in our history” and she slammed one of his signature achievements in office.

“As president of the United States, I promise to you, I will repeal Obamacare,” said Bachmann to a cheering crowd. “You can take that to the bank.”

Bachmann added that she led the fight in Washington to remove federal funding from Planned Parenthood, which is the nation’s largest abortion provider. She pointed to her home state of Minnesota, where six Planned Parenthood clinics have been forced to shut down without taxpayer support. “I’m very proud of that,” she said.

Noting that she received the highest ratings from the NRLC during her time in Congress, Bachmann said she has more work to do in fighting abortion. “I plan to build on that record in the White House,” she said.

Bachmann took aim at Republicans who “flip-flop” on abortion and are “weak on pro-life” -- a not-so-veiled shot at Romney, the former Massachusetts governor who was pro-choice in the past and is currently the favorite for the Republican presidential nomination in 2012.

“We need a principled conservative,” insisted Bachmann. “This isn’t the time for a Republican who has a record of being soft on social issues.”

Bachmann turned her fire back on Obama, labeling his handling of international issues, the economy and social issues as a “tragedy” and promised that she would continue to fight against abortion.

“The life issue needs to be in the front seat,” Bachmann told the crowd. “The president must be able to stand on the moral high ground.”

Bachmann insisted that pro-life voters can trust her, due to her record in Congress. “I have led the fight against abortion in the legistive branch,” she said, asking voters to help her reach the White House. She said if she is elected, there will finally be a “100 percent pro-life president.”

Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or at (850) 727-0859.