Pawlenty veep watch, red alert?
July 23rd, 2008 – 9:39 AM by Bob von SternbergIn a week when John McCain’s aides have been mocking Barack Obama as The One, it’s worth asking if Gov. Tim Pawlenty might just be The One McCain has decided to choose as his running mate.
The GOP veepstakes speculation cranked into high gear Monday amid speculation that McCain might go public with his choice this week, in part to wrestle the media spotlight away from Obama’s globetrotting tour. (Columnist Robert Novak, who has impeccable Republican sources broke the news, which he later walked back saying he believed it was just a ploy by McCain’s people intended to, you guessed it, gin up media attention.)
In any case, the frenzy inevitably tossed Pawlenty’s name into the mix, compounded this morning by CNN, which reported that McCain privately told a group of New Hampshire Republicans that he thinks they are “really going to like” Pawlenty. The unnamed GOP source said McCain’s endorsement came “out of the blue.”
For his part, Pawlenty is zipping his lip. He told both MSNBC and Minnesota Public Radio that he’s done commenting about the whole thing. Per MPR:
“I just have stopped engaging in the discussion because there’s just so much speculation and comments back and forth and things. I just have taken the position that I’m just not going to engage in the speculation any further.”
Meanwhile, Pawlenty’s political spokeswoman said Monday she’s no longer responding to questions about the veepstakes, referring all future queries to the McCain campaign. McCain spokesman Tom Steward confirmed that, saying campaign officials “certainly are not going to be talking about the selection process publicly.”
Pawlenty’s on the road again this week, attending a meeting in Washington, D.C. Monday (and, according to CNN, meeting with McCain aides at campaign headquarters). Today, he’s scheduled to appear at a GOP Lincoln Day dinner in Michigan.
Update: On this morning’s Chris Mathews Show, conservative pundit (and Obama acolyte) Andrew Sullivan flatly predicted that not only is Pawlenty The One, but that McCain’s already made the decision. The transcript, via the Huffington Post:
SULLIVAN: I think the vice-presidential picks are both going to be boring and underwhelming. We hope for a big moment, but actually…neither candidate wants to mix their brand up with another strong brand. I think that Pawlenty will probably be McCain’s number two - I think he’s already made that decision, actually - and I think Obama has yet to pick, but he doesn’t want someone that will outshine him.
MATTHEWS: So that ticket is going to be known as good and Pawlenty.
34 Responses to "Pawlenty veep watch, red alert?"
Pawlenty is a shill. This is what he’s been waiting for. He hasn’t even spent time here serving as governor because he’s so occupied with fundraising and his own hollow political ambitions. Good riddance.
oh, geez, no. take molnau. sell her as the new Pacification Commissioner of Iraq or something. as bad as Trouble Pawlenty is here, Molnau as a replacement would be worse. we’d have armed camps in the Capitol.
Media’s been had AGAIN by the McSame campaign.
If Pawlenty becomes the GOP VP candidate, is it required under Minnesota law (constitution?) that he relinquish the duties of MN governor?
Two word reason to vote for Obama: Gov. Molnau.
Too bad McLame won’t win. I’d love to lose Pawlenty as our Gov.
Another Minnesotan attached to a failed national campaign . . .
Pawlenty will never sell. Cityfolk is right - what a shill.
Somebody is talking to themselves
I’d so love to have Pawlenty be the VP candidate..
as long as he resigns as our governor in the process.
Get that sonova* out of our state.
Cityfolk is delusional. Let’s see…Obama spent 143 days pretending to be a U.S. Senator so it was on his resume to then seek the highest office in this land. Let’s talk about political ambitions here. T-Paw would make an awesome VP and someday a President. I’m hoping he’s on the ticket come fall.
If McCain chooses Pawlenty, it will be a gift for the messiah. I’m not a McCain fan but the messiah is awful. For the first time ever, I may be writing in my choice for POTUS.
Good riddance T-Paw. He has all but destroyed the bar business. But OMG! Molnau??????????????????? as governor?
NOT! Everyone get ready to move to Wisconsin!
Talk about screwed up if we end up with Molnau as our governor. We’re all doomed.
Under Pawlenty’s watch, the roads are crumbling and the bridges are tumbling. But by God he won’t raise your taxes!
Great message. What a success story!
Of course he doesn’t really help McCain on any level, except maybe staying awake during hearings.
Tis’ a pity he can keep his job while he runs, not that he’s been here doing his job for the past two years anyway.
Bring him on! Turn up the spotlights.
This campaign is going to be fun, and then Mr. Pawlenty is going to be done. Thank god.
“governor molnau”. almost as horrifying as “president pawlenty”. someone wake me up. please, please, please wake me up.
Finally, my prayers have been answered. McCain’s victory has been sealed. And you stupid lib-tards had better not say anything about T-Paw flip-flopping on his promise not to run as VP. You’d do the same if you were in his shoes. Praise Jesus, and may he continue to bless his loyal Republican flock. McCain ‘08!!!!
the GOP ticket will be known as “a recession at every doorstep, and two bridges in every river” if they take Trouble Pawlenty. meanwhile, MN will change its name to Mississippi North under Molnau. TP will have to resign to actively campaign, so frankly, as soon as he accepts at the X, it’s Granny Bad Attitude as governor.
CNN says it will be Bobby Jindahl of Louisiana as veep. Jindahl is as green as grass, but somebody made him a superhero costume he wears when rush is in town.
From an electoral college perspective, Romney is a better choice. MN is not a swing state and will be firmly in Obama’s pocket in Nov, even with Pawlenty on the ticket. McCain has a much better shot at taking Michigan with Romney (native Michigander) as #2 than taking MN with Pawlenty as #2.
One last note, McCain has absolutely no shot of taking Massachusetts (Romney former MA governor) in either scenario. Arguably, MA is far more blue than MN.
Yes gopinmn,
And the murdering alcoholic waste of space Ted Kennedy likes Obama, and he’s always right.
These comments do not surprise me. This state is considered a blue state. Has anyone ever considered going against the grain and stop being such a follower? I think Tim Pawlenty has done alot of good for this state. He knows not to raise taxes, especially when the economy is struggling. He knows that you don’t need 3 or 4 people to do a one person job.. He has done a fine job with the budget considering he has not raised the taxes.
God Bless you, Tom. May Jesus strike down our enemies in the Demon-crat party, for we know that he will always punish those unrighteous for their ill-advised beliefs. Jesus be Praised, and may Katherine Kersten continue to write visionary articles. It won’t be long until Kennedy is burning in the flames of hell. A much better fate awaits us and the rest of the faithful GOP flock! Vote McCain in ‘08, or face harsh judgment in the next life!
pineal (gland) has issues. check his meds.
Good riddance T-Paw. He has all but destroyed the bar business. But OMG! Molnau??????????????????? as governor?
NOT! Everyone get ready to move to Wisconsin!
Who cares about our “bar business?” There are more important issues than that! BTW, on your way to Wisconsin, don’t let the proverbial door hit you on your fat, lazy, drunken ass!
Ned
“won’t raise our taxes” Where do you live because I’m being squeezed for every penny.
First we had Jessie (the ME Gov), then we were unfortunate to have the GOV who would never raise taxes—JUST FEES. Fool me once….
There’s not much more important issue than the bar business when you own a bar. When your livelihood is tied to a small business, you tend to vote for the person you think will help…or against the person who has hurt.
I still would like to see the numbers for the bar business comared to before the smoking ban. I don’t know that it truly hurt the business. Are you saying because you cannot smoke, therefore you do not go out to the bar anymore? What would hurt the bar business is if they were told to stop selling alcohol.
and bgates, you are being squeezed by those that raise the taxes. I recall a recent gas tax Pawlenty veto that was overridden. If I remember correctly, they used the 35w collapse as an emotional push to the override. God forbid that the Republicans use 9/11 in a sentence.
How about that manly Mr. R.T. Rybak?
He’s just swell, and he seems so smart in allocating the taxpayer’s money through smart projects that will be a gathering spots for vagrants and gang bangers in the form of those really neat water fountains.
I’ll bet all the politically correct rainbows will lead right to them!!!!
Thanks MN politicians for helping us make decisions, because without you, what in the world would we all do?
Oh, and Pawlenty, Bush and Molnau are responsible for all things bad.
Go Franken!!!
I can’t wait to get some quality people in office like Al. I’m sure after a while, we can all look past the lies, tax evasion, screwing his workers, etc., and start moving in the right direction. I just know we can suceed in our goal of becoming the highest taxed state in the country!!!
Pawlenty raised taxes to buy a new Twins Stadium for the billionaire Pohlad family, proving himself to be a servant of the rich and powerful. What a horrible person to pick for the VP!
Jim says:
July 23rd, 2008 at 4:27 pm
“Pawlenty raised taxes to buy a new Twins Stadium for the billionaire Pohlad family, proving himself to be a servant of the rich and powerful. What a horrible person to pick for the VP!”
Obama provided big dollars in earmarks for his wife’s employer. She in turn received a healthy pay raise. Coincidence?
This would be a dream come true for the Nation and Minnesota. A McCain/Pawlenty ticket would bring a decisive win.
The GOP wants to turn Minnesota red. The question is who do Minnesotans like more, Obama or Pawlenty? Given recent polling (and that Obama fits the Minnesota liberal brand), I must disagree with Jan — A McCain/Pawlenty ticket does not bring a decisive win.
What does Pawlenty give to McCain? The social conservatives he needs to win (No)? Cred on the economy(No)? Strength in infrastructure planning (A bad joke)?
McCain/Romney may be a marriage of convenience… It likely also is a marriage of necessity.
Yay for gopinmn! Well said.
gopinmn says:
July 23rd, 2008 at 11:54 am
From an electoral college perspective, Romney is a better choice. MN is not a swing state and will be firmly in Obama’s pocket in Nov, even with Pawlenty on the ticket. McCain has a much better shot at taking Michigan with Romney (native Michigander) as #2 than taking MN with Pawlenty as #2.