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COLUMBIA, S.C. (WACH, AP) -- Republican presidential hopeful Michele Bachmann is continuing her campaign in the Palmetto State with stops in Columbia and Aiken Tuesday.

The Minnesota congresswoman addressed the South Carolina Christian Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday morning.

She put job creation front and center in her presidential bid.  She told the crowd of Christian activists that it's important to grow businesses to keep more people employed.

Bachmann also stated that problems with the poor won't be solved by the government paying more money to take care of them.

She recalled Tuesday that she grew up after her parents were divorced and her mother refused to take public assistance but did get help from others in their community.

Bachmann emphasized she wasn't criticizing people who need public assistance in her remarks delivered a block from a homeless shelter.

After that, Bachmann headed to Aiken to speak during a fundraising luncheon. Bachmann concluded her two-day visit to South Carolina with a rally in downtown Aiken.

TIME reporter Michael Crowley claims a journalist was accosted at one of Bachmann's appearances in Aiken.  In the article, Crowley says ABC's Brian Ross was pounced on by her security team while trying to ask Bachmann a question when she was leaving the stage.  You can read the entire article here. 

The GOP presidential hopeful was also in Columbia Monday to sign a spending limit pledge and to speak with a group of religious leaders.

Bachmann is the ninth GOP presidential candidate to sign the pledge that urges Congress to oppose any increase in the U.S. debt limit unless certain conditions are met.

Bachmann says she believes in the principles of the pledge.

Former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman said last week he won't sign because he opposes that type of pledge.

U.S. Sen. Jim DeMint has turned the pledge into a threshold test for 2012 presidential hopefuls seeking his support. Bachmann's campaign spokeswoman said that's one of the reasons she's signing the pledge here.

Bachmann also spent the night at the Governor's Mansion as she courts key support from Republican Gov. Nikki Haley. The governor's endorsement would be a huge break in South Carolina's first-in-the-South presidential primary.

Haley responded on Facebook Tuesday afternoon confirming the stay and criticizing the media for reporting those details.

"To our friends at the press: yes, Michelle Bachman stayed at the house last night. No it is not an endorsement. She was smart, bright, energetic, and appreciates our great state," Haley posted.

She went on to say that the invitation is open to any visiting presidential candidate and that it's about being a good hostess for the state.

Haley says the two did not talk politics during the stay.

Bachmann is not the first presidential candidate to spend the night at the mansion. Arizona Sen. John McCain had an overnight stay.

What do you think about Haley's comment?  Leave your thoughts below in the comment section.

(The Associated Press contributed to this report.)