Posted on 08/28/2008 1:15:52 PM PDT by Fred
With the Minnesota governor in Denver to continue his role as a GOP surrogate during the Democratic convention here, reporters were bent on determining where he stands -- or rather where he'll be standing tomorrow morning.
Pawlenty, a much talked-about vice presidential prospect, said that he is "scheduled to be and plans to be" doing a weekly scheduled radio show from the Minnesota State Fair tomorrow morning at 9:00 am. He told reporters that he will be leaving Denver this afternoon, bound for his home state.
The interest in Pawlenty's whereabouts comes amidst news that McCain will debut his vice presidential pick in Dayton, OH tomorrow.
The Minnesota governor would not answer any questions about the vice presidential process, including a volley of queries about how recently he has spoken with his party's presidential nominee. "I refrain from answering any questions relating to the VP selection process," he said. "We're going to allow Sen. McCain to make that announcement."
Pawlenty's tea leaves offered little news to reporters hungry for the veep scoop, but don't miss this answer from another GOP surrogate present at the morning press conference. When Sen. Jon Kyl, McCain's Arizona colleague, was asked if the Republican Party would be deeply divided if McCain was to pick a pro-choice vice presidential nominee, he responded that his Arizona colleague is a "strong conservative."
"But" he added, "he has also willing to take on orthodoxies and to be a maverick at times. Certainly not to be President Bush on certain key issues. And I think the American people respect that."
"If the American people believe and the Republican Party believes that John McCain has good reasons, sound reasons, for making the judgments that he makes," Kyl continued, "then I think that they will be very very supportive of him regardless
(Excerpt) Read more at firstread.msnbc.msn.com ...
Who cares where he is...no one knows him anyway...so they’re not looking
Picking Pawlenty would be an outstanding move for McCain. Not only is Pawlenty a solid conservative on illegal immigration an issue in which McCain is weak, he would also virtually gurantee a win for McCain in Minnesota which would in effect hand McCain the Presidency if he can hang on to the traditional red states. Hopefully Johnny Mac won’t stab conservatives in the back again by nominating a liberal like Lieberman.
Can we scratch Polenta off the list yet?
Your tea leaves ain't working, Jon. A pro-choice candidate will be the death knell for the McCain candidacy.
Pawlenty just passed Romney at Intrade. Pawlenty 50, Romney 45.
Oh, please not Pawlenty. This guy is a boring pick and won’t bring Minnesota to McCain. Pawlenty could only scratch out 46% and a tight win in his re-election bid in 2006.
I do not think anything McCain does will hand him a victory. He has dissed his base so badly, for so long, over so many issues, we will not show up to vote.
I don’t have a problem with the Pawlenty pick, but saying that he’ll ‘virtually guarantee’ a win in MN isn’t really true.
If you look at Pawlenty’s election returns in MN, you’ll see that he’s had his own version of Perot helping him in each of his two elections. He did better this last time, than he did the first time, but he’s not a slam dunk without that third guy splitting things up.
Pawlenty barely won re-election in 2006 in a three person race against two DFLers. Had Hutchinson not run as an independent the Pawlenty most likely would have lost. There is no guarantee that he'll carry Minnesota for McCain, and he adds nothing to the ticket for carrying other states.
Naw, Intrade said Slick Willard was a total lock a while back. You guys said so.
I still think it’s Romney. McCain’s people have been handling his campaign very well so far with the great ads, etc. Romney would be the smart choice b/c of his strength on the economy and his appeal to the western states and Mich. He is well spoken and looks great. He also has lots of money and would energize alot of the base.
McCain has stabbed conservatives in the back far too many times for my liking, and I am only reluctanly voting for him in November. However, he is unfortunately the best we got this election. I’m hoping in 2012 we’ll get a conservative primary challenger like Eric Cantor or Tom Coburn, but until them unfortunately were gonna have to hope for the best with Juan McAmnesty.
It will be Pawlenty for sure, which is a lot better than some of the names thrown out there of course.
Not really a big fan, but like I said it could have been a lot worse. We could have received a total lib like Lieberman or the lib light Romney.
I didn’t know how close the race was in Minn, I just assumed that most candidates have a good shot in their home state. However Tim Pawlenty is a solid conservative and could pressure McCain into upholding his promise on securing the border. For that I still think he would be a good choice for VP.
There are folks in Pennsylvania that say the same thing, only they say it about Tom Ridge and Pennsylvania.
It’s Hillary
I’ve got nothing against him except that he’s a global warmer. But who isn’t these days? (Just all of us normal people I guess...)
I understand, and emphatize (?) with you. I am just SO SICK of the RNC saying “ Who else can they vote for?” To vote for McLame or Obamamama is to vote for either death by burning by gasoline or death by quicklime. One way or the other, you are dead.
Yeah, but unlike Tom Ridge, Tim Pawlenty is a true conservative and would not alienate the Republican base.
If Johnny Mac picks either Lieberman or Ridge I just might stay home this election. His candidacy would be finished.
Yeah, but unlike Tom Ridge, Tim Pawlenty is a true conservative and would not alienate the Republican base.
If Johnny Mac picks either Lieberman or Ridge I just might stay home this election. Many conservatives would, and his candidacy would be finished.
Exactly. If Juan McAmnesty doesn’t pick a VP whose solid against illegal immigration I’m probably gonna stay home in November.
Illegal immigration is the most important challenge facing our Nation. If we won’t defend our borders we won’t have a Nation left to defend at all.
He won’t. He’s for Illegal IMMIGRATION and couches it in Political BS. “We need a way to assimilate the guest workers, etc, etc.” He voted FOR some of Ted Kennedy’s bull shiite years ago and there is no reason to believe he won’t again. He has been on the wrong side of so many issues it is pathetic. NOW, he SAYS he has seen the light, but continues to say FFFF you , little people.” No vote from me.
I know. This is exactly why I supported Tom Tancredo in the GOP primary. Its about time the Republican party nominated a true conservative instead of the same open borders moderate shrill we’ve had representing us since 1988.
Not the worst but not the most inspiring pick either. Kinda like Biden. If this is the pick then both guys hit for no more than a double. Neither is close to a homerun.
“He is well spoken and looks great.”
Shame you can’t trust a single word that comes out of Mitt’s mouth. But he is as good as anyone at telling the voters what they want to hear whether that might be in the particular race he is trying to win.
If Pawlenty really did state on the record, that he would serve out his current term as gov and then goes runs as vp, the majority of the voters in this state would probably not vote for him. (if he was a dem. then the majority probably would but he’s not) This state does have a record of not supporting people who don’t follow through on statements like that...just my observation. He would NOT guarantee this state.
BTTT!
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