Washington ( CNN ) -- Tea party favorite Rep. Michele Bachmann is getting ready to leave Congress at the end of this year , but what she is n't too sure about is another presidential run . `` I have no plan to run for president in 2016 , '' Bachmann said in an interview with The Hill published Wednesday . `` I was so honored to be able to do it in 2012 . It is one of the greatest experiences in my life . But I think the men who run will tell you too , it 's one of the most difficult things you ever [ embark ] upon . '' The Minnesota Republican has yet to completely rule out a bid . In a farewell speech at the Heritage Foundation earlier Wednesday , Bachmann encouraged Republicans to `` go bold '' on initiatives like tax reform if they takeover the Senate this election . `` You either go bold , or you do n't go at all . If you want somebody to lead the debate , I 'll lead the debate , '' she said . Bachmann has remained a fierce leader in the far right side of the conservative movement , particularly in regards to mobilizing the base . In 2010 , she established the Tea Party Caucus in the House . She later went on to win the Ames Straw Poll in 2011 , but went off to finish in sixth place in the Hawkeye State caucuses . Bachmann has mentioned that her retirement from Capitol Hill does not mean she 'll be inactive in national politics . In July she told RealClearPolitics that there 's a chance she could run against the `` various men '' that the media has speculated to run . She has since said that was a `` rhetorical comment . '' `` The context of my remarks were that they were suggesting that no woman would be running for president on the Republican side , and I said , 'Well , I 'm an obvious choice , ' '' Bachmann told The Hill . `` So , that was the nexus of my remarks : Who knows , maybe I 'll run . It was n't that I was going to . It was just a rhetorical comment . ''
The Minnesota Republican has yet to completely rule out a bid but said she has `` no plans '' to do so . Bachmann is not seeking another term in Congress . Bachmann's announcement comes as the GOP race for president heats up.