I’m surprised with the responses on this thread, generally...
...can you help me out a bit and cite a few reasons why you dislike like Pawlenty so much; and also, who do you want to see as the GOP candidate instead?
It is only impressions from what I’ve heard that have me where I am. I anticipate knowing alot more about him prior to my opportunity to pull a lever. Then again, I’m not sure I’ve met anyone to the right of me.
I like what he says. But the guy is boring. We need someone that sizzles, or at least seems to have a heart beet.
I want my candidate to put Obama in his place. The Democrats never speak nice of their opponents. We should be ruthless, Obama is a scumbag and not calling him one gets you no respect.
The fact that so few really know much about him is telling. He is okay. Just okay. I think his biggest "skeleton" is that he was once for cap-n-tax. He has since renounced that position.
The problem is, at least so far, he just isn't very inspiring. The minute Palin was chosen as the VP candidate huge crowds turned out for her, the base was energized and fired up to show up at events. Can you remotely imagine that enthusiasm for Pawlenty? I don't think so.
Republicans, conservatives, Tea Party folks are looking for someone that is reasonably inspiring and exciting, someone who can influence people, someone who will take on the left's sacred cows and not just continue working within the currently accepted establishment system. Someone with guts and energy like some of our new crop of Governors who are going directly at the heart of the Democratic Party by taking on the corrupt unions.
Pawlenty may be generally okay, I could perhaps see him as a VP selection, but he just doesn't really fire people up. I'd say he is much better than Romney on policy, but he is equally dull.
It's not that I wouldn't vote for him if he were the nominee, it's just that I wouldn't be particularly excited about it.