Former Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R-MN) now holds a unique status among the potential Republican presidential candidates — he is the only one to have accepted an invitation to a Hispanic Republican conference, which is being held today.
Politico reports:
If Republicans want to make inroads in the Hispanic community, “first of all, show up,” Pawlenty told POLITICO Thursday. “You’ve got to listen - earn their trust, earn their respect and earn their support.”
None of his fellow contenders decided to take the same course. Organizers of the newly-formed Hispanic Leadership Network, which includes former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, extended invites to every potential Republican candidate, but only Pawlenty accepted.
[TPM Slideshow: Meet The 2012 GOPers: Ex Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R-MN)]
Eric Kleefeld
Eric Kleefeld joined TPM as an intern for the final months of the 2006 midterm elections, and then kept showing up for work. His other interests include guitars, old comic books and the politics of various English-speaking countries.
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