July 18, 2007
T-Paw Comes To Washington, Again
Why is Tim Pawlentyin DC today?
Although Pawlenty has endorsed John McCain and serves as a nat'l co-chair, the gov would not directly discuss federal campaigns today, instead focusing on "state-based" issues and the future of the greater GOP. He met with members of the nat'l media at a luncheon today at Akin Gump law firm hosted by ex-RNC Chair Ken Mehlman and ex-Rep. Vin Weber (R-MN).
In a round-about fashion, one reporter (OK, it was our own Charlie Cook) was able to infer a bit about Pawlenty's WH '08 outlook from a "state-based" perspective. Asked who he would most want at the top of his party's ticket if he were running for re-election in '08, Pawlenty carefully replied on behalf of his "light blue" state saying he would want a president who appealed to the GOP base as well as indies and moderates. Although he said there are "several" who could do that, he went on to list just two -- Mitt Romney and McCain -- respectively.
One has to wonder where the GOP's "next superstar" will turn if his current dog really quits the race. Here are some suggestions inspired from today's luncheon. Granted this kind of guess work might be premature, but Mehlman and other DC GOPers certainly see something in his brand of populist conservatism, often referred to as "Sam's Club Republicans" this afternoon.
-- Get on the Romney bus. First, Pawlenty dropped Romney's name today at lunch. Secondly, Pawlenty's media luncheon was hosted in part today at Akin Gump by Weber, Romney's adviser and cheerleader on all things wonky. Finally, Romney dropped Pawlenty's name in a 7/8 interview with U.S. News and World Report, calling him an example, along with Arnold Schwarzenegger, of the way states are working and balancing budgets, even if DC is faltering. We might be reading too much into this, but at the very least the two men have shown affinity for some of each other's policies.
-- Run against Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) in '12. Because the governorship in MN is not term limited, Pawlenty can either run again in '10 or turn it down to begin a Senate campaign another two years down the road. He's got suburban appeal as proven from his very close re-election win '06, but not the beltway baggage that dragged down '06 nom/ex-Rep. Mark Kennedy. Or at least he's keeping his options open until Sen. Norm Coleman's (R-MN) fate is decided.
-- Cabinet post, perhaps? T-Paw certainly has some pet issues, a few of which he rattled off today: Education, health care and transportation. And even if a Dem takes office, they've got to have a token GOPer somewhere in the cabinet. The question is whether Pawlenty would leave his gov's seat to run a federal bureaucracy, but that might depend on how safe his seat is looking in '10. His state is now, as he said today, "light blue" instead of "purple," but the Minnesota DFL has only had one blue gov since the '80s [AMY DUDLEY/SHIRA TOEPLITZ].
Posted at 03:09 PM
Comments
Forget the cabinet. If a Dem wins in '08, why not go for the big job?
Ben | 07.18.07 06:26 PM
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Pawlenty only won in 2002 due to backlash against Democrats and in 2006 he eked out a win against a very bad, gaffe-laden candidate. Thanks to his leadership, Republicans in Minnesota have lost a Congressional seat and saw a Republican house supermajority completely reversed. He is very far to the right on social issues and that will ensure he won't win any federal office. He also hitched his wagon to a candidate many people knew had no chance of ever being in the Oval Office. He should have gone with Romney months ago, or waited it out.
Jon | 07.19.07 02:28 AM
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