Tim Pawlenty's stock soars in Romney-world
Tim Pawlenty has jumped to the top of the vice presidential shortlist of several Mitt Romney advisers after emerging as the most effective — and well-liked — surrogate for the GOP nominee-to-be, according to several Republicans familiar with campaign deliberations.
The former Minnesota governor has impressed top Romney officials with his winning onstage presence at a grueling roster of Republican events throughout the country and with his low-maintenance personal style that has made him a favorite with the campaign’s tight-knit inner circle at the Boston headquarters.
Continue Reading(Also on POLITICO: Veep Watch 2012)
Pawlenty is strong where Romney is weak — with the regular-guy, working-man connection with voters in casual settings.
“Pawlenty will walk up and put a supporter in a headlock,” said a Republican consultant who was startled to witness just that. “He provides a nice yin and yang to Romney.”
Several top Republicans said that as the hockey-playing son of a blue-collar worker, and a longtime champion of connecting with what he has called “Sam’s Club Republicans,” Pawlenty would be comfortable campaigning among working-class voters in a way that Romney never will be.
In addition, Pawlenty is an evangelical Christian but is low-key enough about his faith that he doesn’t scare off secular voters. This could help Romney with religious conservatives who may be skeptical of — or even hostile to — his Mormon faith.
“He’s great with conservatives but doesn’t scare off women,” a Romney campaign official said of Pawlenty.
Not only have Romney and Pawlenty developed an easy bond when they travel together, but their wives — Ann Romney and Mary Pawlenty — have developed a genuine friendship that has surprised some campaign insiders.
Romney has made clear to his closest advisers that the vice presidential pick will be his call alone. So the Pawlenty momentum could end abruptly if the candidate decides he needs to head in a different direction. But right now, a lot of the talk internally is about Pawlenty — how he checks most, if not all, of the most important boxes and how other possible contenders do not.
This caveat needs to be aired for every veep story: Beth Myers, who is leading the search effort, and Romney are the only two who know the nitty-gritty details of where things are headed. But the chatter among other Romney insiders provides a number of clues as to who’s up, who’s down and who’s probably out.
Several top Republicans said Pawlenty is better now than he was on his own campaign, when he got over-programmed with too much advice and lost the refreshing authenticity that now is his calling card. Friends say his own campaign came to be a grind, but he has found that running for Romney is fun.
“Frankly, in a lot of ways, he has been able to make the case for Mitt more eloquently than sometimes he made the case for himself,” a former Pawlenty campaign official said.
And what do top officials at Romney headquarters love about Pawlenty?
“They respect people who are loyal and show up and work hard, and he has done both in spades,” the former Pawlenty official said. “From the perspective of Boston, I think that really matters. On a personal level, folks really like him. And he’s an articulate, effective, economical messenger for the campaign.”
Readers' Comments (330)
I Know A Phony When ... Party: Republican
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Jun. 20, 2012 - 4:56 AM EST
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Longhorn Party: N/A
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Jun. 20, 2012 - 5:33 AM EST
“'They were both moderate Republican governors in blue states who were pushed to the right,' said a Republican who knows both men well." (referring to Romney & Pawlenty) That's not exactly the kind of statement that is going to get a ringing endorsement from the radicalized Republican base. But the Republican base seems to have fizzled and deflated into quacking ducks, waddling in line and quacking support for a Mormon RINO. Members of the Republican Establishment are smiling smugly. Maybe Pawlenty shot to the top of the V.P. list when he lacked the courage to say on the debate stage what he had said on national television earlier: that the Affordable Care Act is really Obamneycare. Such cowardice may have made him seem tailor-made for a No. 2 lackey. Pawlenty left Minnesota over six billion dollars in debt. As governor, he kept those funny books and budget numbers that reminds one of Bush/Cheney's administration. Pawlenty raised taxes and called the tax hikes something else ("health impact fee"). Under Pawlenty's leadership, property taxes surged. I personally like Pawlenty, though, from what little I know of him personally. He seems nice and would be a good Mr. Milquetoast to Romney's Mr. Insincere & Awkward. (Much better than Romney and Ryan, two wide-eyed, fast-talking, restrained hysterics.)
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Read all 330 comments in our forumIt's a real shame Pawlenty didn't hang in the race, he would most certainly be the nominee now, not Romney. But who could have guessed how crazy the primary season would turn out to be?
It wouldn't have been such a prolonged process, though, if Romney was truly favored by the GOP base. He's not, because he's a phoney and after all this time with him, true conservatives now understand that in a way they didn't back in 2008. I suspect that as the public starts paying more attention to the general campaign, once summer has ended, everyone will come to realize there's less to Romney than meets the eye.
Romney's a political opportunist of the first order, and he doesn't have what it takes to be a true leader. He's okay with managing a situation where the goal is narrow and pre-established (like making profits when he worked at Bain) but he's not the kind of individual who can truly create his own agenda, guided by his own principles and a vision that would take the country forward.
And if that wasn't enough, it's true what the Democrats say: Romney's never been there for us.
In the end Romney's VP is not going to make much, if any, difference. This is strictly an election between Obama or "no Obama". i.e., the election is solely a referendum on Obama, as are all elections where there is an incumbent. Biden is not going to help Obama any, and any VP candidate is not going to help Romney any.
Is it any wonder why Mr. Obama's polling numbers continue to slip? Mitt Romney said repeatedly yesterday that Marco Rubio was being vetted. Isn't it wonderful that Mitt Romney has so many qualified people to choice for his VP? Tim Pawlenty is ready to take on the role as POTUS if it became necessary.
Mr. Obama can not run on his record so his supporters start false rumors and distort Mitt Romney's words.
The failed nuke talks are yet another example of Iran's success in getting the US to vote in extremist Republicans and Christians, especially into the White House. Instead of a war on Iran, American extremist gleefully wage wars on women, science, healthcare, education, anti-slavery, anti-democracy, non-plantation owners, watchdogs, environmentalists, other gene pools, unions, and non-fat white old males, reading, writing, and illegal killing through global warming.
We will be thrilled to watch as both Mitt and Timmy take on all that dirty money from foreign investors and casino moguls to propel their otherwise boring personas for public office. What kind of tax breaks are Mitt and Timmy promising these very, very rich creepoids in order to get their monetary support?
Tax breaks for the wealthy, tax breaks for the wealthy, tax breaks for the wealthy. Obama is bad. Obama is bad, Obama is bad.
Keep on, keepin on all that DIRTY money from anonymous foreign investors and Casino money from Adelson and Trump. So do Mittens and Timmy spend lots of time in these casinos? Is that what they want for their constituants? More Casinos? Is that the direction for our country and our economy? Instead of immigration or economic plans they are telling us to spend more money on craps.
Mitt and Timmey - More tax breaks for Casino Moguls.
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Mitt Romney's moral compass points to Las Vegas
I've been worried about this sort of thing every since Romney won. From the article:
Pawlenty is strong where Romney is weak — with the regular-guy, working-man connection with voters in casual settings.
“Pawlenty will walk up and put a supporter in a headlock,” said a Republican consultant who was startled to witness just that. “He provides a nice yin and yang to Romney.”
I'm a "regular guy, working man, Sam's Club conservative", and have been for over 25 years. I don't like Pawlenty because he's FAR more of a RINO than I am. Two RINOS on the same ticket...really?
There's Rand Paul, Herman Cain, Michele Bachmann, Nikki Haley, Bobby Jindal, Marco Rubio, Rick Perry, and any number of talented and true CONSERVATIVES out there...Mitt doesn't need to nominate Mr. headlock. Bad move.
Tpaw must be into dressage too. Bloodygood sir.
Besides. He is boring enough to even make Willard the draft dodger look slightly exciting.
So Rubio is not being vetted and Pawlenty's the guy? Palwlenty is the only other politician more spineless than Willard. Time to panic Teanuts.
What you people try to pawn-off as genuine.. and a real boon to the American People is nothing more than a facade of truth..
O We get it!
How 'bout more useless, murdering wrs for Israel and more inflation for the usesless eating Plebs?
But do cut the jazz out In Re anything good.. Too Many Dupes...
Don't believe You, nor murdering Holder, nor insider Jamie Dimon.. and never a bunch of payees claiming they're for honesty.
Palenty.. Yawn... a legend in his own mind.. just ask him!
"The Way, The Truth, The Life...." has zero to do with deceit
Enter Clown Act here with fottage of last night's glamour session from Yugo Theatre where CarraVille Twins performed magic.. then cut to the BBC footage from (circa 2009).. Tell Them not to listen to Alex Jones on infowars.. and say it again. Tell 'em that Joey daDuke's ole man loved that "big anti-Communist" way back when.. then show pit boss takin' orders from mr. big.The Merry-Go-Round demands that American People see what we want them to see and they hear what we want them to hear.." Did You hear me " said a voice like Quatro's.
American Exceptionalism must be defined by Mr. Starched Shirt as an America that can intervene in Other's lives resulting in death and destruction but that still makes us exceptional.. Nope - Thou Shall Not Kill speaks-up for Truth..
Quit uninating on the people and pretendin' it's rain... Will You? NAFTA left too many people out>>
Seems Bush et al got there way.. no middle class structure and the other one whose changed about nothing says hope and change are a'comin'... "Now that's funny" Jack Benny and/or Edward Bernay's
This is what they call "failing upwards." Despite plenty of cable news interviews and friendly media coverage about a year back, "T Paw's" campaign barely registered in the polls beyond the level of a statistical glitch. He was the only candidate - in a field that included Michelle Bachmann and Rick Santorum - who never experienced a brief surge as voters desperately cast around for an alternative for Romney.
lol! so the guy who didn't have the courage to repeat to romney's face what he had been sayinga bout him for nearly a week to the press... the guy who certainly would be party presumptive nominee today had he not cut & run after a STRAW POLL is now the fav for veep!? just call it the "mush ticket" cause neither of these guys have any backbone and if elected- you can bet the neocons will again be in control of this administration.
Roameo #11 ON POINT!!!
Mayo + Mayo = A perfect Grand White Party ticket.
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
Mr. Obama is in big trouble. The economy is still the # 1 issue on voter's minds. Mr. Obama has failed America's economic recovery and Mitt Romney is known as Mr. Fix-it. With Mitt Romney at the top of the ticket his VP will be more important than Mr. Obama's Joe Biden VP.
Unpaid Real American writes: O We get it!
How 'bout more useless, murdering wrs for Israel and more inflation for the usesless eating Plebs?
But do cut the jazz out In Re anything good.. Too Many Dupes...
In case you were wondering what REALLY animates the Ron Paulestinian, lunatic fringe, it's conspiricism and Jew hatred. Then again, I might just be a Mossad agent, sent here to torment the Paulestinians and support the formation of a Bilderberger, neocon, Zionist Illuminati world empire?
Mental health is NOT overrated.
"This is strictly an election between Obama or "no Obama". i.e., the election is solely a referendum on Obama, as are all elections where there is an incumbent."
So says Longhorn, apparently a Republican. I can't believe the Republican Establishment has successfully brainwashed Republicans into believing they have no choice. One need not be a existentialist to know life is full of choices -- indeed, it's a series of choices -- and with each choice comes several possibilities from which one can choose. Like every other American presidential election, this will be a choice election. Maybe Republicans need to close their eyes and shut off their brains in order to vote for a Mormon RINO, but most voters realize there are records to compare and contrast, as well as competing economic philosophies, senses of fairness, foreign policy philosophies, job-creating ideas, tax reform policies, healthcare costs solutions, voting rights, women's rights and a host of other important issues.
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Liberal racism. What's not to love? Seems like in the last 4 years, liberals have decided that a candidate must be black to run for president. Qualifications don't matter. Records don't matter. Character doesn't matter. What's really really important is the color of the candidate's skin.
So no matter who Mr. Romney chooses, the main criticism will always be.....COLOR - because without racism and race baiting, liberals can't capture your vote!
Roameo displays his anti-Mormon bigotry: Like every other American presidential election, this will be a choice election. Maybe Republicans need to close their eyes and shut off their brains in order to vote for a Mormon RINO
Jeez, you got that in before 6am. Must be some sort of record? Unpaid got his anti-Semitism in even earlier. You two make quite a team.
He!He! Romney and Pawlenty! Now thats a ticket that will energize people. That's a couple of dull boring canidates! Romney a loser from 2008 and Pawlenty a loser from the 2012 primaries. Now this sounds like a winning ticket.
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