(Image Source: The New York Times)


BY ALLIE SPILLYARDS
 

You're watching multisource politics video news analysis from Newsy.

Controversy continues to swirl around GOP presidential hopeful Michelle Bachmann.
The latest?

Reports of chronic headaches and how it could affect her as commander in chief.
The Washington Post explains.

“...Bachmann... suffers from migraines, she acknowledged Tuesday, but said the headaches are ‘easily manageable with medication’ and would not hamper her ability to serve as president.”

The medical melodrama began after the Daily Caller released an article saying Bachmann had been hospitalized back in July 2010 for a quote “medical episode.” The conservative blog went on to say...

“These episodes, say witnesses, occur once a week on average and can ‘incapacitate’ her for days at time. On at least three occasions, Bachmann has landed in the hospital as a result.”

But the big question-- how serious is this for a potential president?

“There’s all sorts of different triggers for these headaches. Stress can be one of them. And it’s one of the more common ones. People who have a lot of stress or lack of sleep associated with that, that can bring on one of these migraine headaches. It can be very painful. It can last from four hours to three days. So it can be a pretty big deal.”

Supporters from both sides of the aisle are coming to Bachmann’s defense. According to CBS political correspondent Jan Crawford-- some are calling this a sexist debate -- because it implies Bachmann is weak and physically unfit for the job.

“What’s interesting is that some of these liberal blogs say they don’t agree with a word Michelle Bachmann says, but they’re defending her on principle. Several of them even mention that 2008 presidential race which if you recall, Hillary Clinton was sometimes described in pretty sexist terms too so the radar is really high on this.”

Politico’s Kasie Hunt suggests Bachmann won’t lose voters’ faith either.

“Headache’s are something that most Americans are very familiar with. There are hundreds of thousands of migraines sufferers across the United States. There’s also some sympathy from folks who say normal people are perfectly able to suffer from something like this and deal with it in their daily lives.”

And NBC’s Kelly O’Donnell explains-- questioning a candidate’s health is nothing new-- but the timing is weird.

“The health of candidates is often a subject in campaigns. I was in the room when medical records were shown for John McCain or John Kerry, but it usually doesn’t happen this early. Bachmann and her campaign say that they’re may be pressured to provide more information like what kind of medication she takes, but they say it’s not an issue now.”
 

Transcript by Newsy.