Kent Sorensen responds to Bachmann's "sell out" charge: "Absurd"

As most people here have now heard, the chairman of Bachmann's campaign in Iowa has come out and endorsed Ron Paul.

Michele Bachmann chair defects to Ron Paul (POLITICO)
Bachmann's Iowa co-chairman bolts to back Paul (MSNBC)
Breaking: Michele Bachmann campaign co-chairman endorses Ron Paul (DES MOINES REGISTER)
Bachmann Iowa Chair Ditches Her for Paul (TIME)

Bachmann has now responded with this statement (see MSNBC link above for source):

Kent Sorenson personally told me he was offered a large sum of money to go to work for the Paul campaign," she said, accusing Paul of trying to stymie her campaign's momentum. "Kent said to me yesterday that 'everyone sells out in Iowa, why shouldn't I,' then he told me he would stay with our campaign. The Ron Paul campaign has to answer for its actions.

I see people now posting this all over Daily Paul as if it is automatically true, and as if Bachmann has no incentive to make it up.

What does Sorensen say? MSNBC reports:

In a follow-up interview, Sorenson categorically denied having received any offer of compensation by Paul's campaign.

Listen, that's absurd. Like I said before, people on this campaign supported me in my race. They worked tirelessly for me. They stuffed envelopes, they door knocked for me," he said. "I feel like I'm coming home to them.

What does Jesse Benton say? Politico reports:

Paul campaign chair Jesse Benton flatly denied that they were paying Sorenson.

"No, she doesn't have a clue," Benton told POLITICO.

Asked why Bachmann would make such an accusation, Benton shot back: "Because she just lost her campaign chairman and her campaign is floundering."

Let's also not forget that Bachmann has a history of making things up to save face when backed into a corner, like when she falsely claimed she was at a family reunion as an excuse for being late for an event in Iowa, or when she falsely claimed that an IAEA report says Iran is on the verge of having a nuclear weapon to support her hawkish views in debate with Dr. Paul (even the media admitted that her claims were BS and that Paul correctly debunked her.)

Sorenton has already explained his reasons for defecting at length, including commentary on how this was a very difficult decision for him, but one that he felt a moral obligation to make, regardless of what it would mean for his political career:

The decision I am making today is one of the most difficult I have made in my life. But given what's at stake for our country, I have decided I must take this action.

[...]

The truth is, it was an excruciatingly difficult decision for me to decide between supporting Michele Bachmann and Ron Paul at the beginning of this campaign. Dr. Paul and his supporters were a major help in my successful campaigns for Iowa House and Senate even when I couldn’t count on the support of the Republican establishment here in Iowa.

[...]

Since my election, I’ve learned that doing the right thing isn’t always easy. It’s easy to see why so many legislators 'sell out' once elected. The pressure to do so is immense.

But what America needs now is a President who will not just "go along to get along." Instead, we must send someone who puts doing what is right above all else to the White House. That candidate is Ron Paul.

[...]

With the entire Republican establishment intent on smearing Ron Paul and his dedicated supporters, I understand this decision could impact the way people see me and my entire political career. But this is the right decision, and one in which I proudly stand behind.