Contact: Bob Sturm, 703-396-6974; after 6 PM Eastern & on weekends, 703-307-8176; ConservativeHQ.com 

MANASSAS, Va., Nov. 10 /Christian Newswire/ -- Richard A. Viguerie, Chairman of ConservativeHQ.com, has launched a petition drive to House Republican leaders John Boehner and Eric Cantor urging them not to intervene to keep Congresswoman Michele Bachmann from being elected as Chairwoman of the House Republican Caucus.

News reports indicate that Boehner and Cantor are trying to keep Bachmann from being elected to the 4th highest ranking position in the House GOP leadership. The petition asks them to keep "hands off" the race.

In a letter to conservative activists, Viguerie wrote:

"Michele Bachmann and Jeb Hensarling are both small-government, constitutional conservatives. They deserve an equal shot at chairing the House Republican Conference. Unfortunately, Boehner and Cantor are working to derail the Bachmann candidacy by vocally supporting Hensarling.

"Bachmann was one of the few House Republicans who wasn't afraid to take the Tea Party message to the airwaves and nationalize the election in favor of constitutional, small government principles in 2010. Her message connected with voters across America and significantly contributed to the massive 60-plus seat pickup on Election Night."

The petition is online at http://conservativehq.com/bachmannpetition 

NOTE TO EDITORS: Richard A. Viguerie pioneered political direct mail and has been called "one of the creators of the modern conservative movement" (The Nation magazine) and one of the "conservatives of the century" (Washington Times). He is the author of Conservatives Betrayed: How George W. Bush and Other Big Government Republicans Hijacked the Conservative Cause.