Washington ( CNN ) -- Rep. Michele Bachmann boasted of having a `` titanium spine '' in an interview broadcast Sunday , the day before she formally enters the race for the Republican presidential nomination in 2012 . However , Bachmann had some difficulty in clarifying her stance on key issues and explaining federal funding that benefited her family in the interview on `` Fox News Sunday '' and another one with the CBS program `` Face the Nation . '' `` I have a titanium spine for doing what we need to do '' to get the country turned around , Bachmann told Fox , later challenging a question about whether past misstatements showed she was `` flaky '' by saying : `` I think that was insulting to say something like that , because I 'm a serious person . '' The 55-year-old Tea Party favorite from Minnesota has bolted into leading contention among Republican candidates so far after a strong performance earlier this month in a New Hampshire GOP debate . She will announce her candidacy on Monday in Iowa , the state where she was born and an important first destination in presidential campaigning . `` I have a distinct advantage there , I think , '' Bachmann said of Iowa . She listed her accomplishments as a tax lawyer , legislator and mother , and cited her sincerity as a major strength in comparison to the other leading GOP contender early in the campaign -- former Massachusetts Gov . Mitt Romney . `` What people know about me is I do what I say and I say what I mean , '' Bachmann said on Fox , calling herself a `` fighter '' and a `` common-sense voice . '' `` I think people recognize I 'm very sincere in what I say . '' However , she stopped short of calling Romney insincere , though she noted he has changed positions in the past on key issues including abortion . Bachmann , a deficit hawk who backs deep spending cuts to balance the federal budget , adopted a defensive posture when asked about a Los Angeles Times report Sunday on federal money that benefited her family -- including nearly $ 30,000 for a counseling clinic operated by her husband and almost $ 260,000 for a family farm . The money did n't directly benefit her family , she explained , saying the $ 30,000 was for training employees and the farm that got the $ 260,000 was owned by her father-in-law , so she and her husband did n't get any of it . Asked about another roiling social issue -- gay marriage -- Bachmann said she supported both the right of states to pass laws on the matter and the superseding authority of a federal constitutional amendment on the issue . New York 's state legislature and governor have the right under the Tenth Amendment to pass the law legalizing gay marriage , which happened Friday , Bachmann said . She also backs a federal constitutional amendment that would define marriage as between a man and a woman , saying that would decide the issue once and for all . In the end , Bachmann said , it would be better to settle the matter with citizens voting on a constitutional amendment rather than Supreme Court judges issuing a decision . Asked on CBS whether she believes homosexuality is a choice , Bachmann said it was up to individuals to make their own decision and that she was n't judging anyone on the issue . She described herself as a Christian who gave her heart to Jesus Christ at age 15 and now gets guidance in her life and political career through prayer . Her doctrine is rigid conservatism on economic and social issues , and she responds to most policy questions -- especially on the economy with withering criticism of President Barack Obama . `` The president does n't seem to have an understanding of how the economy works , '' Bachmann said on CBS . `` It does n't seem he has a basic understanding of how do the job of president of the United States . '' She challenged the contention by the White House , Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner and economic analysts that failing to raise the federal debt ceiling by August 2 would cause a negative market reaction . `` It is scare tactics , '' Bachmann said of such warnings , adding that the government takes in plenty of money to pay the interest it owes on federal debt and avoid default . In that case , she conceded , other spending such as funding the military would have to be cut . `` It would be very tough love , '' she conceded , adding that she had no intention of voting to raise the debt ceiling at this time . If president , Bachmann said , she would cut corporate taxes in several ways in order to spur job creation , but she stopped short of endorsing a call from her past to eliminate the minimum wage . Bachmann has a history of statements that media fact checkers such as PolitiFact.com have revealed to be untrue , including false claims that Obama 's trip to India cost taxpayers $ 200 million a day and that Obama had only issued one drilling permit since taking office . Asked about that record , she responded : `` I have n't misled people at all . '' As a newcomer to presidential politics , Bachmann was n't asked Sunday whether she would accept an invitation to run for vice president if defeated by another Republican candidate . She may have inadvertently tipped her hand on Fox , though , when she accidentally referred to Romney as `` President Romney '' before correcting herself .
NEW : She says she has n't misled anyone despite erroneous statements . Minnesota - says her family did n't benefit from almost $ 300,000 in federal funds . Bachmann supports both state rights and a constitutional amendment on gay marriage . She will announce her candidacy for governor on Monday in August .