pawlenty for VP?

[Deleted]

EAGAN, Minn. — It was four years ago this summer, when Tim Pawlenty ranked high on the list of John McCain’s potential running mates, and Mr. Pawlenty and his wife, Mary, were plowing through a voluminous questionnaire probing deep into their finances and almost every other aspect of their lives.

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“I remember the two of us joking one night at some inhumane hour, ‘No way is Mitt Romney doing this by himself!’ ” Mr. Pawlenty later wrote in his book. “We had a good laugh over that.”

After a short-lived presidential bid of his own last year, Mr. Pawlenty is again being considered for the Republican ticket. His fate is in the hands of Mr. Romney, a rival-turned-friend, who is on the cusp of announcing his vice-presidential selection. Mr. Romney has reached a decision, his friends believe, and he may disclose it as soon as this week.

The country received only an abbreviated introduction to Mr. Pawlenty, 51, a former two-term governor of Minnesota, whose working-class roots, experience outside Washington and evangelical faith have formed the core of his appeal to a broad spectrum of Republicans.

While Mr. Romney has kept more distance from the rest of his primary challengers, he has embraced Mr. Pawlenty, seeking his advice about running against President Obama and sending him to Republican events on his behalf. They began forging a closer relationship last year on a visit to the Romney family’s lakeside home in New Hampshire, aides said, and during debates this year when Mr. Pawlenty often traveled with the Romney campaign after dropping out of the race himself.

He has emerged as one of the most energetic cheerleaders and forceful defenders of Mr. Romney, firing back against Republican skeptics and Democratic critics alike. All but forgotten are the days when Mr. Pawlenty coined the troublemaking term “Obamneycare,” suggesting that few differences existed between the health care plans of Mr. Romney and Mr. Obama.

The conservative National Review now describes Mr. Pawlenty as “Romney’s traveling salesman.” While other potential vice-presidential candidates like Senator Rob Portman of Ohio and Gov. Bobby Jindal of Louisiana have day jobs that limit their availability, Mr. Pawlenty, who has no other full-time position, is the political equivalent of an empty nester, available to do whatever Mr. Romney asks.

“I’m happy to help where I can,” Mr. Pawlenty said in a brief interview from his home in Eagan, a suburb of Minneapolis. He deflects questions about being Mr. Romney’s partner, saying, “I think I can best serve him in other ways, but anybody would be honored to be asked.”

The vetting of possible vice-presidential candidates is approaching an end. It has been a deeply secretive process, but several Republicans close to the campaign believe Mr. Pawlenty and Mr. Portman stand out among those being considered.

In 2008, as Mr. McCain was narrowing in on a running mate, several aides recommended Mr. Pawlenty. Others pushed for a bolder choice, a candidate who would create more enthusiasm among Republican activists.

Four years later, being passed over for Sarah Palin may work in Mr. Pawlenty’s favor. “In a lot of ways, he’s the anti-Palin,” said Steve Schmidt, a strategist to Mr. McCain who expressed regret for her selection. “Here’s a guy who is prepared to be president on Day 1. In any normal year, he would have been the pick.”

But some of the same perceived shortcomings of Mr. Pawlenty still exist among his detractors, including the critique that he lacks a fiery presence and the ability to excite a crowd.

Associates of Mr. Romney say he believes Mr. Pawlenty has gotten a bad rap, and the comfort level between the men outweighs any concerns of a potential ticket being seen as dull.

A year ago, as the Republican presidential field was emerging, aides to Mr. Obama kept close tabs on Mr. Pawlenty and his plain-spoken message as a so-called Sam’s Club Republican. They spoke privately about how his blue-collar upbringing in South Saint Paul, Minn., in the shadows of stockyards, could be compelling to voters with the economy on their minds.

continued
www.nytimes.com/2012/07/16/us/politics/pawlenty-looked-at-as-romney-running-mate.html?hp

[julief]

I think that Pawlenty may have a better chance to be VP now than he did a few weeks ago. He's the ultimate "do no harm" candidate: not likely to excite OR incite anybody. He had that pithy quote about Sam's Club Republicans, which may resonate because of the recent spate of stories about offshore accounts, tax returns, etc. He can give a "helping the little guy" speech more easily and appeal to midwestern values. I think if he had to choose, Romney's better off trying for the midwestern states than the western ones (CO and NV), and Pawlenty may be the person. In my opinion, Michigan Wisconsin, and Iowa are more in play than Colorado or Nevada. He seemed like he was a nice man in his autobio, and according to Open Secrets he doesn't have the type of net worth that would inspire cynical commentary.

I feel like Portman may have had it in the bag a couple of weeks ago, but now that the "class warfare" argument has taken hold, he may be out of luck. I haven't confirmed this with a second source, but Medved said that his net worth is 75 million.

Ironically, I read in Game Change that Romney may have been the running mate in 2008 but for his multiple houses. McCain had muffed that response about not knowing how many houses he had, so he realized he couldn't have two wealthy guys on the ticket.

He could do worse than Pawlenty for sure. Solid, reliable, relatively blue-collar, executive experience, getting along in a blue state...

-edited to add a few words

[Deleted]

I agree with Julief. Pawlenty was a good fiscal conservative for the State of MN IMO, so I'd like him as a VP candidate.

[josieposy]

Pawlenty left behind a major budget deficit, and he's about as charismatic as a piece of dry toast.

[julief]

But the point is that he would be a strong governing partner for Romney. His personality complements Romney's in that he has a similar way about him, kinda like Clinton and Gore. It would go against the grain of Romney's character to pick some flashy candidate of whom it would be said, "Can this person really govern?" It's not worth it to get great buzz for one or two days if it will peter out and end up backfiring.

I think Romney is not looking at the candidates from a purely political or strategic point of view. He's looking at it with the question, "Can he lead on day one?" Since Romney said that he favors business and/or executive experience, that leaves out people like Rubio.

Pawlenty has blue collar appeal. Yes, I see that he's boring or "dry as toast" or whatever , but when you're a Republican VP candidate, to be called boring, a smudge, or dry as toast is way preferable to "crazy," "dangerous," "stupid," or "unready to lead." Depriving the media of that story line is commendable.

Seriously, he might get a few days of great buzz out of a Martinez or Rubio for a few days, but then come the questions, is he or she ready to lead? Is he or she a token pick, thus insulting in the same way that women felt insulted by the pick of Palin.

I don't think that there's anything in Pawlenty's Minnesota record to lead to the damning "crazy/stupid/dangerous" storyline. I believe strongly that InTrade is correct and it's down to Pawlenty and Portman. The recent attacks on class warfare grounds make Portman less likely.

[aw]

Jul 16, 2012 16:09:26 GMT -5 toledo said:

"There's always Tim Pawlenty. He almost makes Mitt Romney look interesting. In the way that a blank sheet of paper makes a sheet of paper with a smudge on it look interesting."

Yep. I don't think that ticket could get any more boring. I've been on the fence about voting independent, and Pawlenty just wouldn't make me want to vote R at all.

[StrawberryBlondie]

I don't think Pawlenty would be a bad pick, per se. But I fundamentally disagree that he has a strong fiscal conservative record. And if there's some thought that it would make Minnesota go red, I think it would have the opposite effect.

But I'm biased. I can't stand him and I hate what he did with education funding and funding for the courts in Minnesota.

[Deleted]

Plain old non-organic pillbury flour would be more thrilling than Pawlenty.

[julief]

I didn't think for one second that picking Pawlenty would turn Minnesota red. I feel like while he's not exciting, he's a long-term solid pick that will do no harm and keep the focus on Romney. I'd rather have him, a two-day story at best, then an "exciting" or "dazzling" candidate that doesn't pass the "is he ready to govern?" question.

It'd be hard to paint him as radical considering he was elected and re-elected in blue Minnesota.

[eclaires]

Pawlenty is pretty meh to me... I think Romney could do better, but he's not going to make me not vote for him, either. So... IDK.

[julief]

There are other candidates I *like* better than Pawlenty, but it's either not their time or there's a larger strike against them.

ex: Paul Ryan... love him, but his budget would be toxic to run on, would cause the election to be a referendum on Romney, and could cost him the key swing state of Florida due to the old farts. Too risky. However, if Romney were down 10% in the polls and had no chance to win, I'd suggest Paul Ryan so that we could get the Mediscare campaign over with and then we'd be inoculated to have an adult conversation about entitlements later on.

Marco Rubio... exciting, interesting life story, from a key state, but there could be stories about him being a callow youth and the question "is he ready to lead?" is not definitive. He doesn't have the executive/business experience that Romney said he valued.

Bob McDonnell... from a swing state, but I heard from him last on the transvaginal ultrasound issue. Even though that was ginned up to a large extent, it still could reignite the dumb "war on women" that was stupidly hyped to begin with. Fluck that. (play on words with Fluke)

Bobby Jindal... no. Too social conservative, too easily painted as "the other" and "weird." Could become a figure of fun a la Quayle and Palin due to the SOTU speech.

Rob Portman... I like this choice a lot. Moderate in temperament, conservative ideas, fiscal background, great guy, key state of Ohio, really good performance in all areas of Ohio. My only worry with him is that he'd be tied to Bush, but the bigger one is that he might be a little wealthy for this particular 1% bashing climate. I'd love it if he got picked.

I also like Kelly Ayotte----a true star, but it's too early, not her time. I really like her. She'll do well in the future. Same with Martinez and Sandoval.

I'm trying to think if I missed anybody.

[julief]

With respect, aw, and I'm assuming this is adamwife, if you're as conservative as you seem on other threads, and you would be on the fence because you don't think Pawlenty is exciting enough, well, that's a foolish rationale.

edited from "you're a fool"