Rep. Michele Bachmann, R-Minn., and her campaign team should be very proud of their first place Ames Straw Poll finish Saturday. Few predicted she would finish strong, let alone win the event, months ago. But her Ames victory may also be the high point of her campaign. The opportunities for her to pick up extra support are severely limited now that Texas Gov. Rick Perry has entered the race.

Without Perry, there was a chance she could have established herself as the conservative alternative to former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney. But Perry now amply fills that role. Just look at Saturday’s straw poll results. Rep. Ron Paul’s, R-Texas, voters are never going to vote for Bachmann. And given their bitter exchange Thursday, it is unlikely many Pawlenty supporters will become Bachmann converts either.