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[Chuckles @ LGF] Johnson’s comment seems to me radically unfair. Pawlenty is a model of sensible modern conservatism. His answers to Newsweek’s barbed questions indicate an instinct for practical compromise, even as he eschews any personal support for creationism. That said, the interview – and Johnson’s reaction – bespeak a religious problem for Pawlenty that will require much tact on his part and that of his campaign team. Pawlenty now attends an evangelical church, but he was born and raised a Roman Catholic. He changed denominations at marriage, accepting his wife’s evangelical faith. Without pretending any insight into the souls...

In his interview with Newsweek (mentioned earlier by Chris Steller), Gov. Pawlenty said he regretted a 1993 vote to expand the state’s anti-discrimination laws to include sexual orientation and gender identity and that they law should be changed. Specifically, he said laws that protect transgender Minnesotans from being fired for being transgender should be changed. From Newsweek’s Q&A: Newsweek: Yes, gay-rights activists regarded you as a pretty cool guy at the time. Pawlenty: We overbaked that statute, for a couple of reasons. If I had to do it over again I would have changed some things. Overbaked? That statute is...

Republican Gov. Tim Pawlenty in a Newsweek interview expressed regret over a 1993 vote he took as a House member prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation. The vote dealt with the Minnesota Human Rights Act. In the interview, Pawlenty is quoted as saying the statute was “overbaked.” “I said I regretted the vote later because it included things like cross-dressing, and a variety of other people involved in behaviors that weren’t based on sexual orientation, just a preference for the way they dressed and behaved,” Pawlenty is quoted saying. “So it was overly broad. So if you are a third-grade...

Did McCain explain to you why he picked her? The conversation was pretty brief. I just think he felt he had to do something maybe a little different than what would have been the traditional approach. And I think he felt good about his decision. Do you think Palin is qualified to be president? She is easily as qualified as Barack Obama. I would argue she's more qualified in terms of leadership, experience, management, and supervision—actually running something. She was a mayor, head of an energy commission, and governor. Did she help or hurt the ticket? My view is that...

The neediest among us have been writing letters to the editors of the local papers lamenting the absence of Gov. Tim Pawlenty, who occasionally travels out of the state. I guess it makes the letter writers nervous or edgy if they don't have the state's chief executive at the ready to do — I don't know what exactly; maybe come out and shovel their walk. Personally, it doesn't bother me if an elected official is doing something other than governing. If they aren't governing, they aren't fouling anything up, and along those lines, we will be far better served if...

Manchester – Potential 2012 Republican presidential candidate Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty came to the leadoff-primary state today urging the GOP to return to its conservative base and then practice what it preaches if it hopes to regain the lost trust of Americans. "We've got to explain using conservative principles, conservative ideas and values, why our approach, even if it may not be instant gratification, is better for families and individuals and regular working people all across this country on those kind of issues, those bread and butter, meat and potatoes issues," he told the New Hampshire Union Leader in an...

After laying low during Palinpalooza, the former governor is back atop the GOP pack for 2012. Mark McKinnon's year-end rundown of who's hot (Rick Perry) and who's not (Mike Huckabee). The way things are going, maybe we should go ahead and hold the 2012 elections after all—instead of just reappointing Obama president by acclamation. As we head into 2010, it seems increasingly likely that the 2012 presidential contest will at least be competitive. President Obama’s favorable ratings are now consistently below 50 percent; no candidate has been elected president with a favorable of 47 percent or lower and the Rasmussen...

Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney said Sunday that Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty has his facts wrong in criticizing the health care plan Romney instituted in his state. Pawlenty has repeatedly pointed to the Massachusetts plan of his potential rival for the 2012 Republican nomination as the perfect example of how not to do health care reform. The Minnesota governor has made that case in numerous interviews, speeches and op-eds that, while not focused on the Massachusetts program, make his criticism of it clear. Presented with a clip of Pawlenty arguing that the Massachusetts plan did not come close to meeting...

Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin came out on top in a new Washington Post poll of Republicans but folks in the party are far from united behind her or anyone else. The new poll found that Palin, who will be in Minnesota next Monday as part of a book tour, was the pick of 18 percent of those surveyed as the person who "best reflects the core values of the Republican Party." Sen. John McCain, the party's presidential nominee, came in second with 13 percent. Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty earned the backing of just one percent but was in good...

As the Republican Governors Association gathers in Austin this week, there is a real sense among conservatives that the Obama Bubble is about to burst. And all eyes are on the assembled governors to see who might do the bursting in 2012. Ever since his 2002 election, I've kept close tabs on Tim Pawlenty of Minnesota. As governor, Pawlenty coined the phrase “Sam’s Club Republican,” which Ross Douthat and I later used to refer to a strain of Republicanism that aims to meet the needs of working and middle class voters. In an interview with the Ripon Society, a storied...

“After 2010 you can have a polite conversation about who should be president in 2012,” Norquist continued. “But until then the only thing you’re doing is sucking oxygen out of the room. And you’re not being helpful. If you’re the governor of Indiana and you want to be presidential, don’t send me a press release about how you didn’t raise taxes. Beat [Sen.] Evan Bayh [D-Ind.]. Then I’d say, ‘Hey, there’s a guy to talk to.’” But Norquist also had an equally strong message for conservative activists — warning that they should not look to enforce ideological purity tests on...

Pawlenty knocked (again) for pandering to GOP base Gov. Pawlenty’s recent efforts to pander to the conservative GOP base is “Romneyesque,� observes veteran Washington Post political reporter Dan Balz. He warns that Pawlenty is in danger of losing his political compass as he attempts to position himself for a 2012 presidential bid.In particular, Balz criticizes T-Paw for his awkward refusal to embrace Maine Sen. Olympia Snowe as a member in good standing of the GOP during a recent television appearance. He also dings Pawlenty for eagerly wading into the recent congressional contest in upstate New York and for criticizing President...

Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, a Republican, will be in New Hampshire next month, raising speculation that he is preparing for a presidential run. Pawlenty will be the keynote speaker at a fundraiser for the Republican Senate Majority Committee, which will be held Dec. 16 at the Grappone Conference Center in Concord. . . . . . Mike Dennehy, a former adviser to McCain's 2008 campaign and a political consultant for Senate Republicans, is helping to organize the event, which will cost $50 a ticket."We set the price to attract as many people who would like to come," Dennehy said.

"The only thing growing faster than the federal debt is Chris Matthews' man-crush on Barack Obama." -- Tim Pawlenty "They should be focused like a laser on jobs, not acting like a manure spreader in a windstorm." -- Pawlenty, referring to the Democrats in Congress

As freedom loving Americans from around Iowa headed to Des Moines this weekend, President Barack Obama was calling these same U.S. taxpayers "extremists", during an effort to rally the Democrats to pass PelosiCare. Iowa Congressmen Steve King and Tom Latham were on the front line on Capitol Hill, trying to thwart the attempted takeover of our healthcare industry.

Pawlenty hit Obama on the porkulus bill, ever-rising unemployment, broken promises of bipartisanship, and the enormous federal deficit. "We've got a Democrat-controlled Congress messing around with a miserable healthcare bill. They should be focused like a laser on jobs, not acting like a manure spreader in a wind storm," Pawlenty said to laughter and applause.

DES MOINES – Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty used his Iowa debut as a potential presidential candidate Saturday to excoriate President Obama and congressional Democrats for not doing more to address the still-wheezing economy. “They should be focused like a laser on jobs, not acting like a manure-spreader in a wind storm,” Pawlenty told Iowa Republicans gathered in an exhibition hall at the state fairgrounds, criticizing Democrats for their efforts on healthcare and energy.

Minnesota Governor and 2012 Presidential hopeful Tim Pawlenty needed to make an impressive showing in his first major speech in front of Iowa's most influential Republicans. He accomplished that goal. Pawlenty's speech at the Iowa GOP's fall fundraiser was peppered with humor, stiff jabs at Barack Obama, and well-placed, straight right wing points

For conservative political junkies in the Hawkeye State, Saturday is a great opportunity to get your fix. Three major events take place throughout the day and they are spread out enough that you can check out all them. The first is the Iowa Tea Party Statewide Convention...

(snip) The GOP wins in New Jersey and Virginia are breeding a new competition among Republicans to take part of the credit. Mitt Romney and Tim Pawlenty, potential rivals for the 2012 GOP presidential nomination, both tried to bask in glow."We worked extremely hard on behalf of Bob McDonnell and the entire Republican ticket in Virginia, and helped him close strong with a full day of campaigning in the final week; in New Jersey, we endorsed Chris Christie early and made sure he had the resources to be competitive against his better-financed opponent," Romney told supporters of his Free &...

A pretty good interview of Gov. Tim Pawlenty about NY23 and Scozzafava on Morning Joe, by Joe Scarborough, and his crew of lefties, some of whom were out for blood. I think Tim Pawlenty gave a pretty good account of himself, despite some pretty hostile questioning. Dang, I just can't stand that Ariana Huffington. Just hearing her voice makes me want to smash something.

With his second term set to expire at the end of next year, Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty is widely considered a likely contender for the 2012 Republican nomination. Pawlenty took a step toward raising his national profile recently when he formed a political action committee, called Freedom First. Last Friday, TAS's Philip Klein spoke to Gov. Pawlenty over the phone to get his reaction to the Democrats' current health care push. The following is a transcript of the exchange.

St. Paul, Minn. — President Obama is promising new steps toward capping greenhouse gas emissions, but Gov. Tim Pawlenty is backing away from his earlier support for new regulations to slow global warming. Since 2006, Tim Pawlenty has been touting clean energy initiatives as a way to curb greenhouse gas emissions. In 2007, he used his time as chair of the National Governor's Association to suggest ways to improve, develop and advance clean energy. The effort was meant to reduce the nation's dependence on foreign oil, but Pawlenty also didn't deny that it was an attempt to clean up the...

Palin said her endorsement would send a message to GOP leaders of "no more politics as usual" while Pawlenty said that "we cannot send more politicians to Washington who wear the Republican jersey on the campaign trail, but then vote like Democrats in Congress."

Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty waded into the politics of a New York special election for the U.S. House Monday by endorsing a Conservative Party candidate over the Republican candidate. In a statement endorsing Conservatives' Doug Hoffman over GOP Assemblywoman DeDe Scozzafava, Pawlenty said, "We cannot send more politicians to Washington who wear the Republican jersey on the campaign trail, but then vote like Democrats in Congress."

Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty continues to emerge as a conservative leader and a major player among possible Republican candidates to face off against Barack Obama in 2012. He recently started his Freedom First PAC to raise funds for Republicans running in 2010, he has weighed in on Hoffman's behalf in New York's 23rd congressional district, and today he tossed us a gigantic, bloody hunk of red meat. “His solutions are federalization of policy, spending way beyond anything we’ve seen in terms of deficit or debt levels, spending the country into bankruptcy,” Pawlenty says. “And what’s behind it is a philosophy...

With polling now showing NY-23 has come down to a two man race between Hoffman and Owens, the Democrat, momentum is clearly in Hoffman’s favor. Gov. Tim Pawlenty of Minnesota is now adding to the momentum becoming the first sitting Republican Governor to endorse Hoffman. This comes on the heels of Sarah Palin’s endorsement from last week. What makes this stand out even more than the Palin endorsement is that Pawlenty has not been seen as diverging with the Republican establishment. He’s not seen as the maverick that Palin is. But Pawlenty has a huge amount of stature inside the...

Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R-MN), a potential presidential candidate in 2012, has now endorsed Conservative Party candidate Doug Hoffman in the NY-23 special election -- passing over his party's actual nominee, moderate Republican Dede Scozzafava.

2012 peek at Pawlenty's PAC fundraiserJonathan Martin – Fri Oct 23, 12:26 am ET Hundreds of mostly young Republicans gathered Thursday night at a Washington brewpub to lend their support to, size up or just catch a glimpse of Minnesota Gov. and 2012 prospect Tim Pawlenty. Over beers and pretzels, the committed and the curious saw what amounted to an informal debut in the capital for the potential presidential candidate. The fundraiser was ostensibly to support the PAC Pawlenty opened earlier this month, yet for the after-work crowd of Republicans strolling around the terrace of the Capital City Brewing Company...

Continuing his rounds on the national political talk circuit, Gov. Tim Pawlenty this morning gingerly stepped into an upstate New York congressional race that has been splitting the Republican Party. The special election in the state's 23rd Congressional District has become a flashpoint for the GOP, with national figures lining up behind the endorsed Republican candidate and the Conservative Party's standard-bearer. No less a party heavyweight than former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin has endorsed Doug Hoffman, the conservative, while more moderate voices in the party, such as former House Speaker Newt Gingrich have backed the GOP's Dede Scozzafava. Appearing today...

During an appearance on the Neil Cavuto show, Mike Huckabee said he would not make an endorsement in the NY-23 special election -- and then proceeded to profusely praise Conservative Party candidate Doug Hoffman, and say he could never support a pro-choice candidate (which so happens to be the case for the GOP's nominee, Dede Scozzafava). "Certainly his views represent more closely to mine," said Huckabee. "I'm not taking a role in that with my PAC, simply because I feel like it would be inappropriate with me at this point -- mainly because I'm already speaking to the Conservative Party...

Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R) did not offer support for the Republican candidate running in a special election in New York's 23rd District. Pawlenty, speaking to reporters after his political action committee held its first fundraiser, said he did not know enough about the candidates to make an endorsement, and that he had not been following the race. Assemblywoman Dede Scozzafava (R) is facing a challenge from the right in Conservative Party nominee Doug Hoffman. Attorney Bill Owens is the Democratic candidate. "I haven't been following that," Pawlenty said of the contest. "I haven't studied the race at all. It's...

It’s 2009 and the 2012 presidential contest is underway, a full three years early — too early if you’re a typical person who hears 2012 and thinks of the apocalypse, and not early enough if you’re a political nerd who gets the excitement from elections that he should be getting from football games. Obviously, I fall into the latter category. Sports always seemed to me like an inconsequential exercise in watching big guys run, fall down, and throw stuff. Give it up for Governor Tim Pawlenty of Minnesota, also known in his true ghetto fashion as T-Paw, who telegraphed his...

A report in the The Hill newspaper says that Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty's potential 2012 presidential bid has attracted folks who signed up with Sen. John McCain's campaign in 2008. From the piece: Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R) has enlisted a number of GOP strategists from John McCain’s 2008 presidential campaign, another sign that he’s planning a run for president in 2012. ... Among those interested in getting to know Pawlenty are Douglas Holtz-Eakin and Randy Scheunemann, two top policy advisers from the McCain presidential campaign who have joined the Minnesota governor’s host committee. A writer over at The American...

An all-star list of GOP strategists for his PAC’s first fundraiser. Hey — I thought Mitt was supposed to be the RINO candidate this time! Among those interested in getting to know Pawlenty are Douglas Holtz-Eakin and Randy Scheunemann, two top policy advisers from the McCain presidential campaign who have joined the Minnesota governor’s host committee… While Romney has a team of tested veterans to rely on if he runs again, Pawlenty is using his PAC to show off some who might come to his aid if he enters the race. Other McCain veterans teaming up with Pawlenty’s PAC are...

Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R) has enlisted a number of GOP strategists from John McCain’s 2008 presidential campaign, another sign that he’s planning a run for president in 2012. Pawlenty has snagged a stable of well-known Republicans to help host his first fundraiser for the Freedom First PAC, his new political action committee, according to an invitation to the kickoff event in Washington obtained by The Hill. ---SNIP--- “Lots of folks want to learn more about how Gov. Pawlenty successfully governed as a conservative in a traditionally liberal-leaning state,” said Alex Conant, Pawlenty’s spokesman. “His innovative, conservative leadership is drawing...

(snip) Mike Huckabee and Tim Pawlenty — both potential 2012 presidential contenders — urged restraint. "There will be an outcry from those on the right who will say that Obama's nomination, made two weeks into his Presidency, is impossible to justify, but I think such an outcry will sound like right-wing whining," Huckabee said in a statement. "The better response is simply to allow those on the left to explain what he did in his first two weeks as President that merited such recognition." Pawlenty, speaking on NPR, said there "will be some people who are saying 'Was it based...

Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, impressed with Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty’s recent rollout onto the national political stage, is urging him to run for the Republican presidential nomination in 2012. “Governor Pawlenty is a terrific talent, he’s a very attractive guy and he has a good reform record,” Gingrich told POLITICO over the weekend after his speech to the annual Americans for Prosperity conference in Washington. Pawlenty is “certainly going to be a player. There is every reason he should run, there is wide open field right now,” Gingrich said. “He’s an example that the future of the Republican Party...

Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty has been quietly assembling the blueprint of a presidential campaign and will announce Thursday the support of a group of high-level political strategists and donors... Pawlenty, under the radar of D.C.’s political community, has locked up some of the key operatives who engineered then-President George W. Bush’s reelection campaign — a significant feat for a little-known Midwestern politician. The moves underscore, and will lend credence to, the emerging belief among many establishment Republicans that Pawlenty is becoming the sole viable alternative to former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, a potential Republican primary rival. The Minnesota governor has...

Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty is launching a political action committee and Web site Thursday as he continues to lay the groundwork for a potential presidential bid in 2012.

A majority of Minnesotans don't want to see Gov. Tim Pawlenty run for president in 2012, but nearly as many say they would give him a look if he were nominated, according to a Star Tribune Minnesota Poll. The poll shows that only 30 percent of adults want to see the two-term governor make a try for the White House three years from now, while 55 percent do not. But in a mixed message for Pawlenty, 25 percent of Minnesotans said there was a "good chance" they would vote for him if he became the GOP nominee, while another 25...

“I think President Obama addressed that directly and said that he didn’t feel that was the case,” Pawlenty said His comments came when asked about former President Jimmy Carter's and former Vice President Walter Mondale's arguments that Obama’s race is a factor in the animus against him. "I don't like saying it," Mondale told the online news outlet Politico Thursday. "I don't want to pick a person, say, he's a racist, but I do think the way they're piling on Obama, the harshness, you kind of feel it.” “I think people that are guilty of that kind of personal attack...

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) - Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty is preparing to launch a national fundraising committee, another signal the Republican may be positioning himself for a possible 2012 presidential run. The 'Freedom First' political action committee will be formalized in the next few weeks, Pawlenty adviser Alex Conant said Tuesday. He described it as a logical step for the governor, who has been giving speeches and campaigning for Republicans around the country. While forming such committees is a typical step for politicians who aspire to higher office, Pawlenty downplayed any link between his new PAC and a 2012 presidential...

Governor Palin easily handles Politico's Straw Poll: Who should have won the presidential straw poll at the Values Voter Summit? by a very very wide margin. The Governor took a overwhelming majority of 55% to Governor Romney’s 15% and Governor Huckabee’s 10%.

Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R-MN): “Obama Has The Wrong Values.” “Well President Obama is a gifted orator, but I think he has the wrong values and the wrong ideas for our country. He's taking us in a very dangerous direction. He seems unconcerned about the incredible crushing debt...That's just one of many examples of the country being headed in the wrong direction.” Democrats Ramming Through Tax Increases. “If the Democrats would reach out to us with bipartisanship and set aside the things we can't agree on and they can't agree on, we could put together a bipartisan proposal but they're unwilling...

Mike Huckabee may have won the straw poll at the Family Research Council's Values Voter Summit, but Tim Pawlenty may have done himself the most good. I saw the major contenders give their speeches and thought, like Mark Hemingway of NRO, that Pawlenty showed he had the goods. Pawlenty's presentation of his own record as a budget-balancer in MN was impressive and he sounded like the kind of conservative candidate who knows how to handle himself in a debate. The Minnesota governor came off as smart, tough, and ready for prime time. If he keeps making the rounds speaking the...

Here’s the text of Gov. Tim Pawlenty’s (R-Minn.) speech from the Values Voter Summit, annotated to note when the audience applauded. Thanks to the VVS organizers for providing it. Well, thank you very much. And no, Brett Favre is not part of the cash for clunkers program so – (laughter) – it’s going to be a Super Bowl quarterback this year. I’m delighted to be with you tonight, and I’m honored to be the governor of the great state of Minnesota. And of course, one of the privileges and perks of being governor of a state is you get to...

A left-leaning community organizing group says it has no contracts with Minnesota that would be impaired by Gov. Tim Pawlenty's directive to cut off state money. Pawlenty on Wednesday ordered a review and suspension of public contracts with the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now, known as ACORN. The potential 2012 presidential candidate says no state money would go to ACORN unless legally obligated. ACORN is under fire after a hidden-camera story alleging illegal activities by some of its workers. ACORN deputy political director Kevin Whelan says there are no present contracts that would be affected in Minnesota. Whelan...

Well, at least someone has found some good news in these nerve-wracking days of watching President Obama walk us ever closer to an economic precipice. In a very funny piece at the American Spectator online, Ben Stein rapturously thanks the president for “reviving a party, the GOP, that many had left for dead.” How has he done it? By naming “men to office so wildly irresponsible, so extreme in their positions, so vulgar in their means of expression, that they have made the Republican Party regain its of gleam of gentility and good graces. I am not talking only about...

That according to brilliant constitutional scholar MSNBC's David "biased in favor of facts" Shuster, who matter-of-factly insists the "general welfare" clause in Article 1 of the Constitution "unambiguously authorizes" social welfare spending like "social security, Medicare, veterans' care, etc." Shuster made his comments today shortly after 4:30 p.m. EDT in reaction to Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R), who recently suggested that Tenth Amendment grounds could be a means of opposing as unconstitutional certain Democratic health care proposals.