Tim Pawlenty's Cash Problem (The major flaw that could sink his campaign)

New Republic ^ | 05/23/2011 | Walter Shapiro

[SeekAndFind]

With Mitch Daniels officially out of the presidential race, it seems like the entire GOP is emulating Ethelred the Unready. Well, not quite everyone. In a contrarian move at odds with the Reluctant Republican ethos of the party, former Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty will actually make it official by declaring his candidacy today in Des Moines.

Along with the obligatory yawn-inducing “can you win Iowa?” question, Pawlenty almost certainly will be asked again about his ability to compete financially with Mitt Romney, the Daddy Warbucks of the truncated Republican field. Pawlenty recently answered that query with a nod to GM’s venerable product line: “Our goal is not to keep up with Mitt. Our goal is to raise enough money to have at least a Buick, if not a Cadillac-level, campaign.”

But even a Buick campaign (with the usual high-priced accessories like strategists, media consultants, pollsters and press handlers) could easily cost a minimum of $40-$50 million. By way of comparison, Rudy Giuliani—a Buick Regal kind of guy—raised $55 million for his 2008 campaign, which sputtered to a halt after a weak finish in the Florida primary. Romney, for his part, is that rare candidate who combines the fund-raising prowess of the Bush family with Nelson Rockefeller’s generosity to his own political ambitions.

And here lies Pawlenty’s problem: To run a competitive campaign, T-Paw will be forced to spend long hours each week ingratiating himself with wealthy donors in places like Houston and Atlanta. But in this cycle’s foreshortened campaign season, Pawlenty cannot afford to shirk even a minute of the face-to-face politics that have proven essential to winning the Iowa caucuses and the New Hampshire primary. In other words, in a race where time will likely be of the essence, Pawlenty has dangerously little of it to go around.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

Sarah doesn't have that problem.

[SeekAndFind]

I believe Cash is the main problem of early favorites like Herman Cain as well.

Mitt Romney seems to have all the money (who the heck is giving?)

[gov_bean_ counter]

If he had a little more time he could produce CDs of his campaign speeches and sell them next to Dan Gibson's “Sleep Deeply” CDs in Bed, Bath and Beyond...

[Tax-chick]

No, he’s “the major flaw.” He’s a bore. Maybe, if he became President by winning a round of Scrabble, he’d do okay, but you don’t get elected by being a bore. We need someone filled with passionate conviction, and then we will donate generously. “T-Paw” (horrified shudder) ain’t it.

He seems like a nice enough man - I’m from the Midwest, myself. If he ever turns up in my dull suburb, he can come for supper and a setaround.

[ex-snook]

Cash - Supremecourtese for ‘free speech’. If he can’t buy enough free speech, he is dead.

[nina0113]

Mitt Romney seems to have all the money (who the heck is giving?)

George Soros.

[NativeNewYorker]

I heard TP on Rush say he called for phasing out ethanol subsidies, in an Iowa speech. That’s pretty gutsy.

[HANG THE EXPENSE]

Self funded and will have the same result as last time.

[Snuph]

Those who really choose the candidates..... Not the citizens or even members of the GOP. Romney is their darling. He can be trusted to do as told.

[Snuph]

Of those in the field so far, Pawlenty is the only choice for conservatives. And it's not a great choice. However, it would definitely be a move in the right direction.

[Waryone]

Yeah, I guess like Kerry, T-Paw was for it (ethanol subsidies) before he was against it.

[Truth is a Weapon]

Agreed. Of those who have announced, he is the best available choice.

We have a dynamic personality in the White House right now and he is the ultimate fail. It won’t take Reagan’s personality to win just someone who won’t implode.

That being said, I am still hopeful for a better choice.

[Kozy]

Loser. Join Newt on the scrap heap.

No fire in the belly.

Romney is not a conservative and an insider's insider. Won't support.

Say Massachusetts how's that health care program treating you?

[Waryone]

Here's more of "your" only "conservative" choice:

"The era of small government is over . . . government has to be more proactive, more aggressive." 
-- Tim Pawlenty, 2006

Here is more of a Wall Street Journal article on T-Paw.

[Waryone]

Absolutely right! Every RINO a loser. T-Paw is a lessor known member of the RINO group, but a RINO just the same.

[SeekAndFind]

RE: Pawlenty is the only choice for conservatives

What’s the problem with Herman Cain?

[GailA]

Many big finance houses.

Romeny’s donors
http://www.opensecrets.org/pres08/contrib.php?id=N00000286&cycle=2008

[GailA]

Many big finance houses.

Romeny’s donors
http://www.opensecrets.org/pres08/contrib.php?id=N00000286&cycle=2008

[SusaninOhio]

Pawlenty responded to this comment on Rush during the interview earlier today.

I believe it was taken out of context or something like that, I only caught the last of Pawlenty’s response to Rush questioning him about this very issue.

Maybe Rush’s site has more info.

At any rate, I liked what I did hear, and I guess I drank enough coffee today that I didn’t notice his words putting me to sleep. He isn’t afraid of Obama or Obama’s destruction machine, and he knows the attacks will be coming.