Tim Pawlenty

The state shifted right during the Trump Era, and the gubernatorial race is a toss-up

NBC's political team reported this morning:

When I suggested a couple months ago that President Obama might seriously consider replacing Joe Biden as his running mate with Hillary Clinton, Condoleezza Rice hadn't yet thrilled Romney backers with her speech on June 23 in Park City, Utah, and Ann Romney hadn't subsequently said, "We've been…

Erin McPike's "close examination of the [Romney] campaign's activity" at RealClearPolitics suggests four leading contenders for Mitt Romney's vice presidential pick—former Minnesota governor Tim Pawlenty, Ohio senator Rob Portman, Wisconsin congressman Paul Ryan, and Louisiana governor Bobby…

ABC News: "Senate Democrats Say Obama ‘Reinforced’ His Stance on Contraception Mandate at Democratic Retreat"

Campaigns are populated by hacks and trade in cheap shots. But the hacks are usually paid staffers, and the cheap shots are part of their job description. It's sad to see a respected former governor reduced to low-level staff hackery, acting as an attack dog on behalf of a man he once criticized…

On a conference call Monday afternoon, a Mitt Romney campaign surrogate—Tim Pawlenty, the former Minnesota governor—criticized Rick Santorum for being part of the “big-spending establishment in Congress and in the influence-peddling industry that surrounds Congress,” and for previously supporting…

The boss this morning took the stage with Senator Kelly Ayotte of New Hampshire. Smiling, and in good cheer, the boss noted that he and Ayotte had a “tough act to follow—Vice President Rubio and Secretary of State Pawlenty.”

Fox News: "Arizona Sheriff Says 2 Guns Found in Bust Linked to 'Fast and Furious'"

Capital New York: "Bloomberg: ‘Plain and simple,’ Congress caused the mortgage crisis, not the banks"

Herman Cain reports a big online fundraising day yesterday.

Hot on the heels of this morning's announcement of former Minnesota governor and former presidential candidate Tim Pawlenty's endorsement of Mitt Romney, the Perry campaign pulls out the stops to make sure they don't get one-upped ahead of tonight's debate:

Former Minnesota governor Tim Pawlenty, who dropped out of the race for the GOP presidential nomination last month, has endorsed former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney for president, according to a Romney campaign press release. Here's an excerpt:

Politico reports that Virginia governor Bob McDonnell would be "very interested" in the Republican vice presidential slot:

After a disappointing third place finish in yesterday's Iowa straw poll, former Minnesota governor Tim Pawlenty will today announce the end of his campaign for president of the United States. Mike Allen reports: "Tim Pawlenty, the former Minnesota governor, told supporters on a conference call…

A reader, inspired, he says, “by the sudden outburst of poesy at THE WEEKLY STANDARD,” sends in this reflection on last night’s debate:

Thursday's Republican presidential debate in Ames, Iowa featured at least a few testy exchanges. Ron Paul and Rick Santorum sparred over the Iranian threat. Newt Gingrich slapped Fox News moderator Chris Wallace for asking about departures of his campaign staff. And Tim Pawlenty jabbed at Mitt…

Associated Press: "Norway suspect borrowed from Unabomber's manifesto"

George W. Bush pollster Jan van Lohuizen considers some of the Republican candidates who are running (or considering a run) for president. What's particularly interesting are the liabilities that van Lohuizen notices.

"Obama campaign to go on the offensive against conservative critics of Israel stance"

Tim Pawlenty's campaign has just announced that it's raised $4.2 million in the second quarter. "Gov. Pawlenty will report that his campaign has raised about $4.2 million, and begins the third quarter with more available cash-on-hand than the Republicans who won the Iowa caucuses and New Hampshire…

In a speech on the Middle East at the Council on Foreign Relations this morning, former Minnesota governor Tim Pawlenty strongly criticized President Obama's "murky policy" of "engagement." But he also took aim at unnamed "parts of the Republican Party" that "now seem to be trying to out-bid the…

Tim Pawlenty went on Bill O'Reilly's show earlier this evening to react to President Obama's Afghanistan speech:

The Good:

Jennifer Horn, a 2008 Republican House candidate and former conservative radio talk show host, is throwing her support to Tim Pawlenty. Horn says in a statement released by the Pawlenty campaign: 

Tim Pawlenty is the first Republican presidential candidate to run a TV ad in Iowa. He touts his record as Minnesota governor on spending, unions, supreme court judges, and health care: 

Republican presidential candidate Tim Pawlenty warned against "the drift of the Republican Party toward what appears to be a retreat or a move more towards isolationism," according to an articlein Politico. Pawlenty also had criticism for President Obama, who's expected to announce a drawdown from…

Tim Pawlenty went on Sean Hannity's TV show last night to express his regrets for not criticizing Romneycare at Monday night's debate:

Peter Wallison: "Finally, the True Story of the Financial Crisis Breaks Through"

On Sunday, Tim Pawlenty called Massachusetts health care law signed by Mitt Romney "Obamneycare." "We now have essentially the same features" in Romneycare and Obamacare, Pawlenty said on Fox News Sunday.

Head on over to Reason for today's engaging "Ask a Libertarian" series from Matt Welch and Nick Gillespie. "What's the Libertarian Position on Abortion?" is a good place to start.

Tim Pawlenty said on Fox News Sunday that Obamacare and Romneycare are essentially one and the same: "We now have essentially the same features" between the two programs, which he dubbed "Obamneycare." Given the chance to defend his attack during the GOP presidential debate Monday night, Pawlenty…

Tim Pawlenty projects in his economic plan that the gross domestic product (GDP) would grow by 5 percent in real (inflation adjusted) dollars every year for a decade. The debate is now raging over whether such projections are realistic, but the more important consideration is whether the growth…

Tim Pawlenty has been reluctant to take any direct shots at Mitt Romney. During an interview with Steve Hayes the other week, "Pawlenty steadfastly—even stubbornly—refused to offer criticism of the frontrunner." 

In a speech that calls for a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution, a slashing of corporate and income tax rates, and emergency presidential powers to rein in spending, former Minnesota governor Tim Pawlenty laid out his economic vision for the country in Chicago today.

The Faith and Freedom Conference, organized by former Christian Coalition leader Ralph Reed, met in Washington this weekend and previewed several Republican presidential primary candidates—including Mitt Romney and Tim Pawlenty, who are both committed to seeking the GOP nomination, as well as…

Republican presidential candidate Tim Pawlenty released this video, giving a glimpse of the narrative he's trying to build: 

Via Dave Weigel, a new web video of mysterious origins is highlighting some Tim Pawlenty's more moderate statements. His past support of cap-and-trade is well known and he's already walked it back. The video includes a soundbite that might be problematic for Pawlenty.

Ben Smith points out that on Wednesday Minnesota governor Tim Pawlenty referred to "Iran" and "Iranians" a few times when he was actually talking about Iraq. Jonathan Chait pounces: "He didn't just mishear the question. And he didn't simply misspeak. He clarified that he was being asked about Iran…

GOP presidential contender Tim Pawlenty says he'll be releasing his alternative plan for Medicare reform soon. He's been dogged by the press (and the DNC) about whether he'd be willing to sign Ryan's budget.

In a moment of candor after his political career had ended, former vice president Al Gore averred that his support of ethanol was in part driven by “a certain fondness for the farmers in the state of Iowa because I was about to run for president.” Gore, it should be noted, cast the tie-breaking…

This morning, the newly appointed chair of the Democratic National Committee, Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.), told reporters she questioned whether Republican presidential candidates like Mitt Romney, Tim Pawlenty and Jon Huntsman believed in American exceptionalism.

Dave Weigel reports that Republican presidential candidate Tim Pawlenty argued against cutting the military earlier today at a speech and press gathering at the Cato Institute in Washington, D.C.:

Former Minnesota governor and presidential candidate Tim Pawlenty reiterated today that while he thinks Paul Ryan is a "very bright, courageous congressman," he doesn't wholeheartedly support Ryan's budget. "I think in general the direction of it is positive, but I'm going to have my own plan,"…

Philip Klein notes an important pledge Tim Pawlenty made in his presidential campaign announcement in Des Moines, Iowa yesterday. Federal ethanol subsidies "have to be phased out,"  Pawlenty said, countering much of the the agricultural community in Iowa, including many conservative Republicans in…

It's now official: Tim Pawlenty is running for president. 

Former Minnesota governor Tim Pawlenty has released this preview video, in advance of his official announcement later today that he'll be running for president, called "A Time for Truth." 

There’s no GOP operative for whom I have higher regard than former RNC chair and senior Bush advisor Ed Gillespie. He deserves to be taken seriously when he says (according to Politico): "For all intents and purposes, the field is set. The waiting is over. It's possible someone may get in later on,…

In what could be interpreted as a sign that Tim Pawlenty is betting big on Iowa, the former Minnesota governor will announce that he is running for president on Monday in Des Moines, the AP reports.

There is definite discontent among plugged-in Republicans about the GOP field. From what I gather, lots of people feel as though no candidate offers the right combination of conservatism, authenticity, and excitement. Those seem to be the main grievance points.

"Egyptian Saif al-Adel now acting leader of al Qaeda, ex-militant says"

In a statement released by the Pawlenty for President Exploratory Committee, former Minnesota governor Tim Pawlenty offered advice for the president on his upcoming meeting with Israel's prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu. "President Obama should use his meeting with Prime Minister Netanyahu to…

Alternate headline: "Honestly, Who Cares?"

"Obama is rude and unresponsive to sister of 9/11 victim"

Minnesota governor Tim Pawlenty arguably has the most to lose or gain in tonight's Republican presidential debate in Greenville, South Carolina. That's because he seems to be the only one of the five candidates participating in debate with a good shot of actually becoming the Republican nominee.

The conventional wisdom is that the emerging Republican field for 2012 is a very weak one. However, like so much else in the topsy-turvy age of Obama, the conventional wisdom on this one is completely upside down. The idea of a weak GOP field is almost as ridiculous as a debate about a…

The New York Times reports that Nick Ayers, the former executive director of the Republican Governors Association, will be joining the Tim Pawlenty 2012 team as its campaign manager. The announcement comes as a bit of a surprise to political insiders, since Ayers's successful tenure at the RGA came…

It's difficult at this point to try to determine who has the best chance to be the Republican candidate in the 2012 election. Still, it's fair to say that Tim Pawlenty could pursue a potentially successful "Goldilocks Strategy" for the nomination.

Earlier this evening, former Minnesota governor Tim Pawlenty was asked for his opinion of Syria on the Hugh Hewitt radio show. “Bashar al-Assad is a dictator,” said Pawlenty, a prospective Republican presidential candidate for the 2012 election, referencing the Syrian strongman who is brutally…

At the Washington Post, Chris Cilizza lays out a four-point path for Tim Pawlenty, the former Minnesota governor who announced yesterday his exploratory committee to run for president in 2012. Of the four points, Cilizza's first might be most compelling:

Former governor Tim Pawlenty of Minnesota, a Republican, just announced in a video posted to Facebook that he is forming an exploratory committee for the 2012 presidential election. The video, which does not seem to be embeddable, is available here.

The invisible phase of the presidential campaign is upon us, as prospective GOP nominees are travelling to Iowa, New Hampshire, and South Carolina, meeting with donors, and of course making appearances on Sunday news programs to deny that they have any interest in the party nomination. And with all…

Jeff Zeleny of the New York Times has a piece today about former Minnesota governor and likely GOP presidential candidate Tim Pawlenty. The premise of the story is a tad thin--Pawlenty seems to be trying to appeal to multiple cohorts of Republican primary voters--but it contains this puzzling…

Matt Continetti's advice for Tim Pawlenty, former governor of Minnesota from this week's TWS newsletter:

Former Minnesota governor Tim Pawlenty has been doing the rounds lately, promoting his new book and signaling quite clearly that he is going to run for president. He's still pretty much an unknown quantity among the mass public, but I think there are a lot of reasons for conservatives to take a…

Former Minnesota governor Tim Pawlenty, who kicks off his national book tour (i.e. the unofficial start of his presidential candidacy) this week, is viewed as a somewhat squishy establishment Republican by some in the media and the conservative movement. That perception may be due in part to the…

Last night, former Minnesota governor Tim Pawlenty sat down with the Daily Show's Jon Stewart:

Over the weekend, Jeb Bush wrote a very insightful editorial for the Miami Herald: