(CNN) - Former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty on Wednesday beat back speculation that Mitt Romney needed a "flashy" running mate, saying instead the presumptive GOP nominee should pick a more serious number two.
"We have a lot of people who are entertaining, who can light their hair on fire or whatever, but the bottom line is these are serious times, we need seasoned experienced people who get the job done," Pawlenty said on Fox News.
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Pressed by Fox anchor Neil Cavuto if Pawlenty considers New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie as someone "who lights their hair on fire," the former governor said he was referring to President Barack Obama when he made his comment.
"Barack Obama gives us this soaring rhetoric last time, soaring rhetoric, and it turned out to be a bunch of empty promises," he said.
Pawlenty, a former 2012 presidential candidate, is widely considered to be on Romney's list for veep contenders. Also thought to be on the list are the very vocal Gov. Christie as well as Sen. Rob Portman of Ohio, who has been criticized by some for having a less-than-animated personality.
Talking about his own credentials, Pawlenty pointed to his record as governor and added he can be relatively entertaining.
"I'm not as flashy as some, but compared to some others, I think I'm right in there," he said. "But nonetheless, I'm not defending it one way or the other. I'm just saying, people - rhetoric and teleprompter and jokes and that kind of stuff doesn't put gas in our cars."
Cavuto then asked if Pawlenty could sing.
"No, I can't sing very well," he said. I'm sorry."
– CNN's Ashley Killough and Gregory Wallace contributed to this report.
From CNN Politics
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Yep, learn from McCain's mistake.
Lets keep Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert in business. Pick Bachmann, or Trump, or Palin (again)!!!!!
A "flashy" VP? Really? I thought when the American people vote for a candidate, they're supposed to vote for one who serves their best interest at hand and not one who is flashy and flambouyant? O' wait, its the republican party we are talking about after all. Their constituents usually don't vote on the issues. Got it!
Without showing us his tax returns Romney might as well pick Palin again to run for VP. Whatever he's hiding must be pretty awful to give away your shot at the elelction.
Who cares about the VP? I wish either party had a worthy candidate running for President...but no such luck.
Well ,you have that covered along with the rest of the Gop drones .
@myviewwhocares – "we don't need another Hollywood obsessed Obama and George Clooney hanging around the White House keeping Obama company."
You are watchinig waaaaaay to much faux news. How about nugent who threatened the President or chuck norris and hank williams jr slobbering over the AK bimbo? What's that comedian's name, something or other miller? He was never funny so he picked the right party to latch on to in the end.
He's not going to pick Christie. Christie could maybe make a run on his own in the future but he's bringing to much baggage to an otherwise clean Romney campaign.
In response to CoJo. McCain lost his run for election so why would we even look at his choices, who he picked for VP, or how he ran his campaign for insight on how to win an election?? If anything the McCain campaign shows that he made all the wrong choices.
Romney could choose Jesus as his running mate. It wouldn't make a difference. He's dead in the water.
Did Pawlenty say 'pick a serious number two' or 'take a serious number two'?
Is this guy vp? How idiotic.
I think you are flashy T-Paw. When you left Minnesota with $8 billion in debt, you were gone in a flash. I wish the same were true for Michelle Bachmann.
Ann's horse would be a great choice for the republican party. A good interviewer, strong on foreign policy, and polls well with women.
A dull VP will fit right in with a Dull President.America won't have to worry The GOP's candidates do not stand a chance of getting elected.
In response to J.........you lost me at "clean Romney campaign" ????
if he picks a flashy candidate, the tax return issue must be worse than it looks already.
Sarah Palin would be a perfect VP running mate for Romney.
She can't answer basic questions and he's got two answers for every question.
As Stephen Colbert said, it will be the bland leading the bland
"I'm not as flashy as some, but compared to some others, I think I'm right in there,"
Sure, Timmy ... you're "right in there" . As in just another unemployed GOPer looking to continue his lucrative government handout job career. Just ask Michele Bachmann how well her government job is working out for her.
Romney's VP choice is becoming a moot point. The flap over his hiding financial information is going to cause his campaign to implode and he will never get the nomination.
The last thing Willard needs is a VP with a personality. He has been described as having the personality of 1% milk (I think they are giving him more credit than his due), so he needs someone with the personality of a warm glass of tap water to complement him.
Kevin- "Not one jobs bill out of them"..... Correct, there has been 29 jobs bills passed and submitted to the Senate, but DUMBARD REID is using them so sit on and be visible above the speakers' stand. The DIM Senate is obstructionist.
Go away little Timmy – you are a total zero.
What you did to the state of Minnesota's economy is outrageous, and shows that you know nothing about governing.
Tim Pawlenty is a loser, but so is Romney, so this might be a perfect match!
Naw, he just needs a rabid, anti immigrant, anti abortion, anti liberal, anti tax, anti compromise, anti (please complete anything I left out) republican who can please the goofy, tea party, religious right conservative wing of his party. Not inviting Palin to the national convention (although I bet he backs away from that one or she crashes it) probably will cost him a bunch of votes. Given the current state of the Republican party I cannot see any VP pick that he can make that will appeal to moderate republicans or independents.