Tim Pawlenty

Pawlenty Scraps State Campaign Finance Program -- Which Was Helping Republicans!

Eric Kleefeld | November 20, 2009, 3:53PM

Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R-MN)

Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R-MN) made an interesting move in a series of unilaterally-imposed budget cuts, the Star-Tribune reports, by suspending a tax-refund program that partially reimbursed small political donations -- and, it turns out, was benefitting the state Republicans much more than the Democrats.

The program gave taxpayers a $50 refund if they made a political donation of at least that amount. State records show that donors to Republicans were claiming $2.9 million in these refunds, compared to only $1.1 million in refunds claimed by Democratic donors.

Give Pawlenty some points for consistency. It appears that he isn't just against public financing of campaigns when it helps the Democrats. He's against it when it helps Republicans, too.

Tim Pawlenty

Poll: Obama Would Beat Pawlenty In Minnesota

Eric Kleefeld | November 18, 2009, 9:49AM

Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R-MN) and President Barack Obama

A new poll of Minnesota by St. Cloud State University finds that Gov. Tim Pawlenty, a potential Republican candidate for president in 2012, would lose his Democratic-leaning home state to President Obama if the election were held today.

The numbers: Obama 49%, Pawlenty 40%, with a ±5% margin of error.

In 2008, Obama beat John McCain in Minnesota by 54%-44%. As the Star-Tribune notes, Pawlenty received less than 50% of the vote in each of his two elections as governor. He won 44% of the vote in a three-way race in 2002, and in 2006 he narrowly edged out his Democratic opponent by a 47%-46% margin.

Sarah Palin

Poll: Even Conservatives Don't Want Palin Running For President

Eric Kleefeld | November 17, 2009, 11:05AM

Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin

A new CBS poll finds that Americans overwhelmingly don't want Sarah Palin to run for president -- and furthermore, even conservatives don't want her in the race.

Respondents were asked: "Would you like Sarah Palin to run for president in 2012?"

The top-line numbers: Only 24% would like Palin to run, compared to 66% who don't want her to run. Broken down by party identification, among Republicans it's 44%-48%, with Democrats 9%-83%, and among independents 26%-62%.

And among self-identified conservatives, only 41% said yes, to 50% who said no. Palin's only bright spot was white evangelicals, who favored a run by a narrow margin of 48%-42%.

Sarah Palin

Sarah Palin Quotes C.S. Lewis And Asks For Cash

Christina Bellantoni | November 17, 2009, 10:16AM

For all her 2012 denials, former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin is sure sounding like a presidential candidate in her fundraising emails.

Palin (R) asks supporters for up to $5,000 in donations, and anything over $100 gets a free, signed copy of "Going Rogue."

She says Ronald Reagan "showed us the way" and "charted the course for us," and goes on to quote C.S. Lewis:

C. S. Lewis once wrote: "We all want progress, but if you are on the wrong road, progress means doing an about-turn and walking back to the right road." We need to get back on the right road. In order to progress, we must return to our founding principles of limited government, fiscal responsibility, and strong national defense.

Palin says she'll help commonsense candidates "regardless of party" and asks for fundraising help with a peppy message:

"We won't let anyone tell us to sit down and shut up. We're going to stand up, stand together, and fight for what's right!"

Palin's full email after the jump.

Read more »

Sarah Palin

Poll: Americans Don't Like Sarah Palin

Eric Kleefeld | November 16, 2009, 9:12AM

Sarah Palin

A new ABC/Washington Post poll finds that Americans still do not like Sarah Palin, who is kicking off her Going Rogue book tour with a taped interview airing today on the Oprah Winfrey show.

The poll finds that a majority of Americans, 52% of respondents, have an unfavorable opinion of her, compared to only 43% favorable.

In addition, respondents were asked this question: "Regardless of whether or not you'd vote for her, do you think Palin is or is not qualified to serve as president?" The numbers: qualified 38%, not qualified 60%.

In addition, 53% say they would definitely not vote for her. Only 9% would definitely vote for her, and 37% would consider it (those people are likely Republicans and GOP-leaners who want to see all the options).

Tim Pawlenty

Poll: Minnesota Would Not Vote For Pawlenty For President

Eric Kleefeld | November 13, 2009, 9:53AM

Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R-MN)

A new Rasmussen poll of Minnesota, where Republican Gov. Tim Pawlenty is widely seen as a potential presidential candidate, finds that a plurality of likely voters in the state would not vote for him.

Respondents were asked: "Suppose Governor Tim Pawlenty runs for President in 2012 and wins the Republican nomination. If Pawlenty was the Republican Presidential candidate, would you vote for him?"

The numbers: Yes 42%, No 46%, with a ±3% margin of error. The poll also has Pawlenty's approval rating as governor at 52%, with 47% disapproval.

Minnesota has not voted Republican for president since the 1972 Nixon landslide. In 2008, it voted for Barack Obama by a 54%-44% margin.

2008 campaign

Campaign Tactics They Could Believe In: Obama '08 Pushed Early State Pledge

Christina Bellantoni | November 12, 2009, 10:39AM

David Plouffe

Remember the mess that was Florida, Michigan and the earliest Iowa caucus in history?

Turns out some of the complications were orchestrated by the Obama campaign.

In his new book "The Audacity to Win" Obama campaign manager David Plouffe confesses they tried to "box in" Clinton after the Democratic National Committee's Rules and Bylaws Committee decided to strip Florida and Michigan of their delegates as punishment for holding primaries earlier than allowed. (In the end, it all worked out, but it caused complete chaos for months as the primary dragged on.)

Plouffe writes:

"Emboldened by the drift of the rules committee, we took it to the next level. I asked Steve Hildebrand to go on a secret diplomatic mission to speak with the four early-state party chairs, encouraging them to ask all the candidates to sign a pledge stating they would not campaign in any states (Florida and Michigan) that had violated the rules and were threatening the approved early states' primacy.

Yes, this was in our self-interest. But it was also in theirs. If these two big states were penalized as severely as possible, and we all committed not to campaign in them, then the role of the early states was protected with no ambiguity."

Read more »

Tim Pawlenty

Pawlenty To Visit New Hampshire In December

Eric Kleefeld | November 11, 2009, 3:33PM

Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R-MN)

Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R-MN), a potential presidential candidate, will soon be visiting the major primary state of New Hampshire, the Union Leader reports.

Pawlenty will be the keynote speaker at a December 16 fundraiser for the New Hampshire GOP's state Senate campaign PAC. Tickets will be $50, an amount that was set in order to be affordable and "to attract people from all across the state," said local GOP strategist Michael Dennehy, who is advising the PAC.

Dennehy said that Pawlenty "would be a good, new fresh face for Republicans in New Hampshire to meet and to help raise money for the Republican cause."

Pres '12

Sarah Palin Rips Health Care Bill And Reprises Death Panels Claim

Christina Bellantoni | November 9, 2009, 10:19AM

Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin

Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin accused Democratic leaders of trying to "ram" the health care bill through Congress over the weekend and said voters should "look closely" because death panels remain in the legislation.

Palin took to Facebook a few hours after the late-night vote to tell her nearly 1 million supporters the bill was "disastrous" for the economy but they should "hold on to hope."

"We've got to hold on to hope, and we've got to fight hard because Congressional action tonight just put America on a path toward an unrecognizable country," Palin wrote. "The same government leaders that got us into the mortgage business and the car business are now getting us into the health care business."

Palin, who used her Facebook feed to further the phony death panel meme earlier this year, brought it up again:

We had been told there were no "death panels" in the bill either. But look closely at the provision mandating bureaucratic panels that will be calling the shots regarding who will receive government health care.

Read more »

Tim Pawlenty

Tim Pawlenty To Iowa GOP: 'Thank You, Lord, For My Red-Hot, Smokin' Wife'

Eric Kleefeld | November 9, 2009, 10:03AM

Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R-MN)

Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R-MN) spoke to the Iowa Republican Party last night, and thanked God for his blessings in life.

"Thank you, Lord, for my red-hot, smokin' wife," said Pawlenty -- a quote from the movie Talladega Nights, a Will Ferrell comedy about an idiotic NASCAR driver.

"I think she appreciates that line. I talked to her about it and she's OK with it," Pawlenty later told a reporter. "She knows it's in fun. I mean it sincerely, I think she is hot."

Late Update: Here's the video:

VA-GOV

Pawlenty On Virginia: Voters Embraced McDonnell's 'Conservative Message'

Christina Bellantoni | November 3, 2009, 8:46PM

Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R-MN)

Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty issued a statement on Bob McDonnell's (R-VA) win in Virginia tonight:

"I want to send my congratulations to Bob, Maureen and their family. Bob ran a positive campaign based on the conservative principles of fiscal responsibility and low taxes. Virginians embraced his conservative message, rejecting more taxes, card-check and spending that would hurt economic growth and job creation. I'm especially proud of the RGA's historic role in supporting Bob's effort, and look forward to working with the Governor-Elect next year."

Pres '12

Tim Pawlenty To Speak At NRSC Meeting Next Month

Christina Bellantoni | October 27, 2009, 6:48PM

Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R-MN)

Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R) is lending his 2012 hopeful self to the National Republican Senatorial Committee, sending out a letter to NRSC's mailing list touting his upcoming speech next month.

He'll be speaking at the NRSC fall meeting, held Nov. 16 and Nov. 17. One donor will be chosen to attend the meeting, Pawlenty wrote to NRSC supporters.

"I look forward to sharing the message of Freedom First with supporters from across America who are helping us rebuild our conservative ranks in 2010," Pawlenty wrote in the email, obtained by TPMDC.

Full email after the jump.

Read more »

NY-23

Pawlenty Endorses Conservative Party's Hoffman In NY-23

Eric Kleefeld | October 26, 2009, 3:14PM

Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R-MN)

Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R-MN), a potential presidential candidate in 2012, has now endorsed Conservative Party candidate Doug Hoffman in the NY-23 special election -- passing over his party's actual nominee, moderate Republican Dede Scozzafava.

Pawlenty said in a statement given to Red State:

"We cannot send more politicians to Washington who wear the Republican jersey on the campaign trail, but then vote like Democrats in Congress on issues like card check and taxes. After reviewing the candidates' positions, I'm endorsing Doug Hoffman in New York's special election. Doug understands the federal government needs to quit spending so much, will vote against tax increases, and protect key values like the right to vote in private in union elections."

Pawlenty is the second possible GOP presidential candidate to pick the Conservative over the Republican, following Sarah Palin's endorsement of Hoffman late last week. Newt Gingrich has been vocally supporting Scozzafava, and catching a lot of flak on the right as a result.

Tim Pawlenty

Pawlenty: My State Should Opt Out

Eric Kleefeld | October 23, 2009, 4:37PM

Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R-MN)

Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R-MN), a potential president candidate, says that his state should opt out of the public option if given the chance.

"I don't know if we would opt out, but I personally would like to opt out because I don't like government-run health care," Pawlenty said.

This shouldn't be too much of a shocker, considering that Pawlenty had previously talked about invoking the Tenth Amendment and attempting to nullify health care reform at the state level. Really, being given permission by the federal government to opt out isn't much in comparison.

It's unlikely that Minnesota actually would opt out, due to its legislature being heavily Democratic. But hey, Pawlenty can dream. And he can court the national GOP base.

Tim Pawlenty

Pawlenty Covers The Rolling Stones To Woo Young Republicans

Evan McMorris-Santoro | October 23, 2009, 10:58AM

Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R-MN)

Minnesota Governor and expected 2012 presidential contender Tim Pawlenty (R) held his first D.C. fundraiser for his new PAC last night at a pub downtown. Pawlenty focused the event on young Republicans, and opened his address to the few hundred in the crowd with little taste of that rock-and-roll the kids are all talking about.

"Mick Jagger said in a song once, 'you can't always get what what you want. But if you try sometimes, you just might find, you get what you need," Pawlenty said. "For those of us who are Republicans and conservatives, we didn't get what we wanted in the 2008 election for president but we did get something that we needed. And that is a chance to ask 'what are the lessons from 2008 and 2006?'"

Pawlenty said the lesson he learned was that Republicans need to make new friends -- but keep the old ones, too. "I know a little about reaching out to people who are not yet Republicans," he said. "But I want to make sure as we move forward we don't get confused about diluting our principles and our values."

Read more »

Mitt Romney

Romney: If Obama Does A Good Job, I Might Not Want To Run

Eric Kleefeld | October 19, 2009, 4:51PM

Former Gov. Mitt Romney (R-MA)

Mitt Romney seems to be casting himself as a somewhat reluctant possible presidential candidate, and not the ambitious politician that people usually think of -- declaring he's not immediately running for president, but that his eventual decision will be influenced in part by the job that he thinks President Obama is doing.

"I'm doing what's necessary, if you will, to keep options open," Romney told Milwaukee-based TV host Mike Gousha. Romney said that family concerns come first, of course, but so does the overall national situation and Obama's performance.

"Clearly, if President Obama happened to be doing a great job, as I had hoped he would do when he got elected, why, that would influence my thoughts," Romney said. "But instead, he's taken the country in a very dangerous direction, and that makes it far more likely that folks are gonna think about getting in and removing him from office."

(Via WisPolitics.)

Sarah Palin

Poll: Palin Loses Big To Both Romney And Huckabee For GOP Nomination

Eric Kleefeld | October 19, 2009, 11:46AM

Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin

A new Rasmussen poll suggests that Sarah Palin should not be viewed as a favorite for the Republican nomination in 2012, with her trailing both Mitt Romney and Mike Huckabee by wide margins in head-to-head match-ups.

Romney leads Palin by 52%-37% among likely GOP primary voters, and Huckabee is ahead by 55%-35%.

The pollster's analysis also finds that Mitt Romney's Mormon religion is still a liability, with him losing to Palin by 14 points among evangelical Christians, while leading her among other Protestants, Catholics and other groups. By contrast, the former Southern Baptist minister Mike Huckabee leads Palin by 17 points among evangelicals.

Tim Pawlenty

Pawlenty Speaking To Right-Wing Activist Conference

Eric Kleefeld | October 16, 2009, 3:09PM

Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R-MN)

Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R-MN), a potential candidate for the Republican presidential nomination, is set to boost his ultra-conservative credentials this weekend, putting in an appearance at the Western CPAC conference -- where he'll be in some pretty interesting company.

Tonight, for example, Pawlenty will be featured at a private VIP reception, which also include none other than Floyd Brown. For those of you who have not heard of him, Brown was the originator of the Willie Horton ad against Mike Dukakis in 1988, and currently runs the Web sites Expose Obama and the Impeach Obama Campaign, which warns: "how long should we sit back and permit Barack Hussein Obama to rip apart the fabric of this country before we take action?"

Read more »

Tim Pawlenty

Pawlenty To Make Iowa Debut

Christina Bellantoni | October 7, 2009, 10:44AM

Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R-MN)

Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty is heading to Iowa in a key early test of his ability to build support among potential Republican caucus goers.

Pawlenty, who recently announced a new political action committee will be the "featured guest" at the Nov. 7 Leadership for Iowa event at the state fairgrounds.

Matt Strawn, Chairman of the Republican Party of Iowa, issued a release praising the Minnesotan as "innovative" and "conservative," and noted Pawlenty was known for balancing the state budget, reducing spending and enacting health care and education reform measures.

Pawlenty will be joined by Republican candidates for governor hoping to oust Democrat Chet Culver in 2010. Tickets are $25 per person and can be purchased here.

Late update: The Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party took a cue from the national Democrats who have been hammering Pawlenty as an absentee governor lately, and put out tongue-in-cheek statement.

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Bill Frist

Bill Frist's Surprise -- and Maybe Elusive -- Support for Obama

Christina Bellantoni | October 5, 2009, 3:21PM

Echoing President Obama's "the time is now" call to action on health care reform, former Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-TN) writes in his new book that those who argue Obama is trying to do too much, too fast, with too much money should ask themselves: "Can we afford to do nothing about a wasteful and inefficient health-care system that drains billions from our economy, weakens the competitiveness of thousands of businesses through excess costs and yet fails to deliver basic care to far too many of our citizens?"

Released today, "A Heart to Serve," is "not a political memoir," Frist tells fans on his Web site. But with its seeming embrace of Obama and health care reform, the book has thrust Frist back into the political arena.

Read more »

Sarah Palin

Former McCain Campaign Manager: Nominating Palin In 2012 Would Be 'Catastrophic'

Eric Kleefeld | October 2, 2009, 9:25AM

Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin

That famous infighting of the core McCain campaign versus Sarah Palin is still continuing, with former McCain campaign manager Steve Schmidt openly saying at the Atlantic's "First Draft of History" symposium that it would be "catastrophic" if Palin were to win the Republican nomination in 2012.

Schmidt said: "I think that she has talents, but you know, my honest view is that she would not be a winning candidate for the Republican Party in 2012, and in fact, were she to be the nominee, we could have a catastrophic election result."

It's sure been a long journey for Schmidt, as far as his attitudes on Palin are concerned. The Los Angeles Times reported in October 2008 that Schmidt himself pushed McCain into picking her. After Karl Rove said the pick was a campaign decision, and not a governing decision, Schmidt fired back: "Karl's wrong. She's an exceptional governor, a reform governor in Alaska."

But with the campaign long over -- and Palin's performance regarded as disastrous by everyone except her core fan-base -- Schmidt is sure singing a different tune.

Late Update: The transcription of Schmidt has been corrected slightly, based on the video.

Tim Pawlenty

Pawlenty Hires Sara Taylor, Ex-Rove Aide And Featured Player In U.S. Attorney Scandal

Eric Kleefeld | October 1, 2009, 12:32PM

Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R-MN) and Former WH Aide Sara Taylor

A very interesting name pops up on the management and strategy team for Gov. Tim Pawlenty's (R-MN) new political action committee, which is widely seen as a preliminary step for a presidential campaign: Sara Taylor, a former top aide to Karl Rove, who resigned her position during the U.S. Attorney scandal.

Taylor's testimony during the U.S. Attorney hearings sure was interesting. When confronted with the fact that she'd conducted official government business through a private RNC e-mail account, she explained that it was more "efficient" than using both the RNC e-mail and the government e-mail. In addition, Taylor refused to answer many questions, citing executive privilege, and for other questions said she couldn't recall the answers:"I can't remember what I had for breakfast last week."

But her single most famous moment was when Sen. Pat Leahy (D-VT) caught Taylor saying she made an oath to the President -- as opposed to saying she made an oath to the Constitution:

Pres '12

Pawlenty: My New PAC Is "Just The Opposite" Of Confirming Presidential Run

Eric Kleefeld | September 22, 2009, 2:29PM

Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R-MN)

Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R-MN), who is widely seen as a potential presidential candidate in 2012, has now formed his own federal political action committee, called "Freedom First," which will allow him to raise money for other Republicans and to travel around the country -- but Pawlenty is denying that this is a step towards laying groundwork for a presidential campaign.

As the Star Tribune reports:

Pawlenty, who ended his state fundraising committee earlier this month, said the new PAC should not be seen as confirmation of his interest in running for president.

"It is just the opposite," Pawlenty told the Star Tribune this morning. "This undertaking, as we plan it and envision it, would be to help other candidates on a federal level."

Tim Pawlenty

Pawlenty Orders Halt To Minnesota Funding of ACORN -- Which Reportedly Does Not Exist

Eric Kleefeld | September 16, 2009, 5:54PM

Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R-MN)

Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R-MN), a potential presidential candidate in 2012, has taken the bold step of ordering his state government to suspend and review all funding of ACORN -- a move sure to please the GOP base.

But here's the catch, according to the Star Tribune: ACORN says that they don't have any funding from the state of Minnesota. A spokesman for the group told the paper that ACORN has never received money from the state government, "and there's certainly not a dime to cut off right now."

Pawlenty's order to the state Management and Budget Commissioner ordered a halt to all ACORN funding "unless the state is legally obligated," and to conduct a "thorough" investigation into the state's relationship with ACORN.

Pres '12

Poll: Huckabee Trails Obama Only Narrowly; Palin Way Behind

Eric Kleefeld | August 20, 2009, 11:41AM

Former Gov. Mike Huckabee (R-AR)

A new national survey from Public Policy Policy (D) finds President Obama leading four potential Republicans with, with Mike Huckabee currently polling as the strongest opponent -- and Sarah Palin as the weakest.

The numbers: Obama leads Huckabee 47%-44%; Obama is ahead of Newt Gingrich 49%-41%; Obama leads Mitt Romney 47%-40%; and Obama is ahead of Sarah Palin 52%-38%.

Huckabee also has the best personal ratings of the four tested Republicans, with 45% favorable to 28% unfavorable. Gingrich is at 33%-42%, Romney 37%-34%, and Palin 40%-49%.