Pawlenty troubles
Tim Pawlenty has announced he won't seek a third term as Governor which changes the Franken-Coleman dynamics drastically as Pawlenty is now looking to please the Republican primary voters in Iowa and South Carolina more than the people of Minnesota.
PS. From where we stand now, Pawlenty, with no national structure and not too much big name support, would seem at best an outside shot to be Republican nominee in 2012. Maybe he's looking to run for the VP slot or just looking to run for name recognition, setting up for 2016?
PS. From where we stand now, Pawlenty, with no national structure and not too much big name support, would seem at best an outside shot to be Republican nominee in 2012. Maybe he's looking to run for the VP slot or just looking to run for name recognition, setting up for 2016?
posted by mikevotes at
1:38 PM
5 Comments:
2010, 2012, 2016.... These all seem so impossibly far away to me, in political terms. While I understand what you're saying, I just can't -- on my own -- understand how Pawlenty's role in the Franken-Coleman election would make a difference. His role is perfunctory. Not that of a decision maker; merely a witness to the fact his state cast more legally recognized votes for one candidate than another.
Not only does Pawlenty have no national structure, he has no national media presence. Meanwhile, you have Romney and Huckabee sniping at every single syllable uttered by Obama... even as he embarks on a delicate diplomatic trip to the Middle East. (A sin for which would've got a Democrat lynched (metaphorically) in the Bush years).
Of course I'm hoping the MN SC ruling is sufficiently forceful that Pawlenty would have to actually leave the state if he were to refuse to sign the election certification. (This is all getting a little surreal... Are there no rules? )
By
-epm, at 2:21 PM
Well, by taking the Coleman side, he'll win insiders and prove he's loyal.
Agreed, he might not end up having the latitude to really refuse the election, but he doesn't really need to affect the result to gain benefit. All he has to do is make a show of "doing everything he could."
As for his national chances, I tend to agree. Working without an office to campaign from. Seemingly no national money or significant PAC money to throw around....
On the other hand "Walmart Republican" Pawlenty might be an attractive VP partner for a wealthy, unable to reach normal people Romney.
By
mikevotes, at 3:56 PM
You should have titled this "Troubles Paw-lenty"
By
Anonymous, at 9:23 PM
THAT'S PRETTY GOOD. I WAS ACTUALLY LOOKING FOR A PUN, AND THAT ONES GREAT.
By
mikevotes, at 10:12 PM
His polls in Minnesota are way down. He senses a loss if he runs, which would be worse than no national reputation.
We will soon see about his decision after the Minnesota Supreme Court decides. I believe he will sign off on Franken and let Coleman do what he wants to do.
He has been appearing often on MSNBC. He wants liberals to see him as moderate, but he is not, he is as connected to the right wing as most, but he has a smoother way of saying it to the public.
He is the poster boy for Republicans on how to govern a State without raising taxes. I just hope the record of how he has financially destroyed Minnesota goes along with those talking points.
By
Unknown, at 2:20 PM
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