Gov. Tim Pawlenty showed more leg than he ever has before Sunday on the persistent speculation that he’s near (or even at) the top of John McCain’s short list for vice-presidential running mates.

He appeared on “Fox News Sunday” with Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine, with host Chris Wallace describing them as “the governors of two swing states who are both contenders in the “veepstakes.”

Asked directly about the vice presidency, Pawlenty opened the door a tiny crack after saying for months only that he’s concentrating on his day job at the state capitol:

I have a fond and deep respect for Senator McCain and his leadership. I want to help him become the president because I think he’d be a great president. But I don’t have any designs on being vice president.

If somebody came to me and said that, of course, it would be an honor to be mentioned, honor to be asked. It would be difficult to turn that down. But I don’t have any designs, and it’s not why I’m such a great and strong promoter of Senator McCain.

That said, Pawlenty spent most of the program assuming the role a vice-presidential candidate usually does, beating up on the opposition while leaving the high road to the top of the ticket.
Some excerpts:

PAWLENTY: Well, I was just going to say on that issue of the perception or the message that Senator Obama is going to have everybody working together, that defies the facts in the record.

He is somebody who’s been out of the mainstream not just of America but of his party. He’s somebody who has taken positions that have regularly ranked lockstep, almost robotically, with the Democratic caucus and liberal interest groups.

You look at Senator McCain’s voting record — he has consistently and regularly reached across the aisle to get things done in a big way. The change really has been from Senator McCain, somebody who’s willing to take risks, take on big issues and get things done for the country
I think once [McCain’s] message resonates or gets out with people as compared to Senator Obama’s — Senator McCain wants to cut taxes. He does not want to raise taxes on Social Security like Senator Obama does.

Senator McCain wants to relieve tax burdens on businesses so the entrepreneurial spirit can be unleashed and people will invest and grow jobs, as opposed to adding tax burdens to businesses in this country like Senator Obama wants to do.

But judgment is a derivative of a number of things, including experience and wisdom. Senator McCain has got actual national security and military experience.

And this isn’t limited to a slip on Jerusalem in the case of Senator Obama. First he was going to meet with tyrants without precondition. Now he’s modified that.

He was in favor of lifting the embargo against Cuba. Now he’s modified his comments on that.

He first said the Iranian revolution guard wasn’t a terrorist organization. Now he says maybe it is.

Wonder if he passed the audition? (If, indeed it was that. As Wallace said when he introduced the two governors, “as I welcome you both back, consider this something of an “American Idol” audition, because I’m sure they’re watching back at campaign headquarters.”

This entry was posted on Monday, June 9th, 2008 at 9:37 am and is filed under Barack Obama, John McCain, Presidential, Tim Pawlenty. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.