ST. PAUL, Minnesota (CNN) – Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty addressed the Republican convention Thursday night, but it was a far cry from the VP address that many once thought he would give.

His address Thursday came early — around 7 p.m. local time. Delegates were still filing in as he was speaking, and many inside the Xcel Center talked throughout his speech.

The delegations seated close to the stage were paying attention and chanting "John McCain," but in other parts of the room, it was hard to hear what he was saying over all of the chatter.

Pawlenty was considered one of the top contenders for John McCain's VP slot on the GOP ticket.

MINNEAPOLIS, Minnesota (CNN) – Three top Republicans — including two who reportedly held top spots on John McCain’s V.P. shortlist — expressed confidence Tuesday in the McCain campaign’s vetting of Sarah Palin, and said that her daughter’s pregnancy is a private matter that will have a negligible impact on the presidential race.

Tim Pawlenty, Newt Gingrich and Mitt Romney each spoke to a handful of reporters in Minneapolis after a pair of convention-related events.

Pawlenty and Romney, both passed over by McCain in favor of Palin, said the matter of Bristol Palin’s pregnancy should be off the table in the campaign.

“The personal life of her juvenile 17-year-old daughter is not fair game, so I’m disappointed that that’s even an issue that would come up,” Pawlenty said after an education forum here, adding that he had read in the papers that she had been vetted “thoroughly.”

Read the rest of this entry »

DAYTON, Ohio (CNN) – It is unclear if John McCain has notified his running mate yet, but planned Denver media appearances by Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty, thought to be a top contender, were abruptly canceled Thursday so he could back to head back to Minnesota, an aide said.

Pawlenty’s appearances were canceled by the Republican National Committee, which had invited him to Denver to act as a McCain surrogate during the Democratic convention.

Another VP contender, former primary season rival Mitt Romney, is traveling in California and attending private events, including fundraisers. There was no indication he has received word either way yet from McCain, according to sources close to the former Massachusetts governor.

Read the rest of this entry »

Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty told CNN's Wolf Blitzer that the Republican VP candidate will be able to handle Joe BIden.

WASHINGTON (CNN) – Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, long-rumored to be on Sen. John McCain’s short list for vice president, told CNN’s “Late Edition” he isn’t concerned about newly chosen Democratic vice presidential candidate Sen. Joe Biden of Delaware.

Calling Biden “long-winded,” Pawlenty told host Wolf Blitzer, “I think any of the people that Senator McCain is thinking about for vice president will be more than able to hold their own against Senator Biden.” The Republican vice presidential nominee will get his or her chance to face Biden during the vice presidential debate on October 2 in St. Louis, Missouri.

Other names circulated in Republican circles for the number two spot on the McCain ticket include former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney; Tom Ridge, former Homeland Security Secretary and Pennsylvania governor; and Sen. Joe Lieberman, an Independent Democrat and longtime ally of McCain.

Pawlenty appeared on “Late Edition” today while campaigning for McCain in Pennsylvania. He has spent the last few months speaking on McCain’s behalf in battleground states such as Michigan, fueling further speculation that he’s being seriously considered for the VP spot.

On Monday he is expected to campaign in Ohio for the presumptive Republican presidential nominee.

When pressed by Blitzer if he expected to be McCain’s running mate, or if he felt ready to hold the office, Pawlenty refused to speculate. “I just don't talk about the VP speculation anymore.”

Watch Pawlenty's interview on American Morning Friday.

(CNN) – Less than a day after the Obama campaign put out a new ad about Sen. John McCain’s recent inability to state the number of houses he owns with his wife Cindy, Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty is defending the presumptive Republican nominee.

“Barack Obama made over $4 million last year, has his own million-dollar home in Chicago that involved some dealings with a pretty shady character,” Pawlenty said Friday on American Morning making a reference to Obama’s ties to convicted Chicago businessman Tony Rezko. “And now you have him saying he’s more in touch with the common person in the United States than John McCain?,” Pawlenty asked rhetorically. “I mean, give a break. Give me a break.”

Pawlenty told CNN’s John Roberts that McCain “was trying to be accurate” when he told journalists recently that McCain’s staff could answer a question about how many homes the McCains own. “He has a home he lives in Washington, two in Arizona and one in California.”

“But it gets more complicated than that,” added Pawlenty “because Cindy’s family has family homes.” “And some of those other homes are not for the exclusive use of Sen. McCain.”

Pawlenty also told Roberts that he did not think McCain had forgotten how many homes he owns.

The Minnesota governor is widely regarded as being on McCain’s short list of potential running mates.

Sen. Obama is leading in Minnesota according to a new poll.

(CNN) – Sen. Barack Obama has the lead in Minnesota according to a new poll released Thursday.

The Illinois Democrat leads rival John McCain by 10 points – 48 percent to 38 percent. In the survey, 10 percent said they were unsure about their choice for president, 3 percent preferred Ralph Nader, and 1 percent chose Bob Barr, the Libertarian Party’s nominee.

As McCain enters the final stage of his vice presidential selection process, the poll also suggests that picking Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty as his running mate might help McCain in the battleground state. Roughly 1 in 5 likely Minnesota voters indicated that they would be more like to vote for McCain with Pawlenty on the GOP ticket, according to an analysis released by the polling director at the University of Minnesota which conducted the survey. The analysis also stated that choosing Pawlenty appears to lift McCain’s support by 13 points.

“If Gov. Pawlenty can shift Minnesota into the Republican column for the first time in 36 years, that will be a significant boost for McCain,” said CNN Senior Political Researcher Alan Silverleib. “Adding a blue state like Minnesota basically compensates for the loss of a medium-sized red state from 2004, such as Colorado, Indiana, or Missouri. The numbers in this poll hint at a rare chance for McCain to go on the offensive in terms of the electoral map.”

The Minnesota Public Radio News/ Hamphrey Institute survey of 763 likely Minnesota voters was conducted August 7-17 and has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.6 percentage points.

CNN considers Minnesota a toss-up state.  Click here to view CNN's Electoral Map.

Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty has been mentioned as a potential VP pick for Sen. John McCain.

WASHINGTON (CNN) — Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty – mentioned as a top contender to be John McCain’s running mate – said Thursday that the Republican Party needs to change its image and outreach geared toward young voters.

“I don't think we're doing a very good job reaching out and attracting the support of young people right now and that is part because we need to freshen up the party a little bit,” Pawlenty told CNN Headline News’ Glenn Beck. “Doesn't mean we dilute our values or change our values. We just have to do a better job of making sure we translate that them into the modern generation.”

Watch: Pawlenty on GOP, guns, bailouts

Veepstakes speculation has recently surrounded Pawlenty, a governor from a state in play this year. Political analysts say the Minnesota governor – who possesses a Washington-free resume — could take some of the same-old/same-old feel off the Republican ticket, counterbalancing McCain's age and decades in Congress with a light touch.

Watch the full interview on Glenn Beck tonight at 7 p.m. ET on Headline News.

Read the rest of this entry »

Gov. Pawlenty spoke at the National Press Club Wednesday.

(CNN) – Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, who is widely rumored to be on Sen. John McCain’s short list of potential vice presidential picks, displayed his skills as a political attack dog Wednesday.

Watch: Pawlenty compares Obama and McCain

“Senator McCain’s life experiences are epic, they are legendary,” Pawlenty said in response to a question at the National Press Club. “They are a life story. Not a life oratory but a life story,” Pawlenty added, in an apparent reference to Obama’s much-discussed public speaking skills.

“That stands in contrast to Senator Obama,” Pawlenty said, turning his attention to the presumptive Democratic nominee. “It is simply a matter of fact that less than four years ago he was a state legislator.”

“It’s not even a close call in my book as to who you want in sitting in the Oval Office as President of the United States, leader of the free world, commander-in-chief.”

Pawlenty was also asked about the qualities he thought a vice presidential candidate should possess and he kept his response to the point.  "Discretion," the Minnesota governor said.

In an appearance before a conservative group Wednesday morning, Pawlenty had more praise for Obama.

"People want to follow hopeful, optimistic, civil, decent leaders," Pawlenty said.  "Say what you will about Barack Obama . . . people gravitate when you got something positive to say," he added.  The potential Republican VP pick also told the gathering that McCain had a positive approach to politics as well.

Pawlenty is said to be on McCain’s VP shortlist.

(CNN) – Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty was able to dodge questions about the vice presidential game – for a second.

At a news conference outside a Bloomington, Minnesota gas station to promote John McCain’s energy plan, the questions turned to whether he’s atop the presumptive Republican nominee’s running mate shortlist.

Pawlenty paused and turned to the gas station owner next to him. To laughter, the owner said “I’m really flattered you’re considering me, asking that question.”

But the governor offered little more, saying he has “stopped engaging in the discussion.” He told reporters, “I’m honored to have my name mentioned. I have just stopped engaging in the speculation because I think it is largely speculation, and it just fuels more speculation.”

Read the rest of this entry »

BETHLEHEM, Pennsylvania (CNN) – Reluctant at first to wade into the vice presidential selection process, John McCain Wednesday was coaxed into offering more praise for one of the hotter names in the speculation game this week.

Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty drew more attention as a likely short-lister earlier this week after McCain brought him up unsolicited in New Hampshire, telling a private meeting of delegates they were “really going to like him.”

At a media availability inside a Bethlehem, Pennsylvania grocery store Wednesday, McCain was asked about talk Pawlenty was at the top of the list.

At first, McCain demurred, saying “you know that I can’t mention any names. We have a process going on.’

Pressed on whether he had anything positive to say about him, McCain quickly said, “Oh, Tim. I’m sorry. He’s a great, fine person.”

Read the rest of this entry »

(CNN) — Sen. John McCain supporter Gov. Tim Pawlenty, R-Minnesota, remained mum on Sunday about the possibility of running alongside the Arizona senator in the general election.

"We talked about family and sports and politics and the like, but we did not discuss any talk about the vice presidential pick," the governor told CNN's Wolf Blitzer when asked about his recent meeting with the presumptive Republican nominee.

Many analysts have identified Pawlenty as a likely V.P. candidate. He is the national co-chairman for the McCain campaign and has been an active supporter of the Arizona senator's presidential pursuit.

Minnesota, which hosts the Republican National Convention in September, is also widely considered to be a battleground state for both parties this November-adding to his appeal as a potential running mate.

Despite staunchly defending McCain on issues ranging from taxes to oil drilling to alternative energy solutions, Pawlenty refused to take the bait on the "veep" question.

"I am very happy being the governor of the state of Minnesota. [being vice president] is not something I have designs on," Pawlenty stated.

(CNN) – Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty will be in the spotlight Thursday evening when John McCain makes two campaign stops in Minneapolis and St. Paul, but Pawlenty — often floated as a possible running mate for McCain — continues to deny that he is being considered for a vice presidential nod.

On Tuesday's edition of "The Situation Room," Wolf Blitzer asked Pawlenty if the McCain campaign had begun to "vet" him.

"They have not," Pawlenty said. "I haven't been asked. I don't expect to be asked. But you're always kind to inquire about that, Wolf."

Pawlenty was again asked about being on the ticket Wednesday by the Minneapolis-St. Paul Star-Tribune, but he again dismissed the speculation.

"I'm honored to have my name mentioned,” Pawlenty answered. "The fact is, I haven't been asked, and I don't expect to be asked."

According the newspaper, Pawlenty was asked point blank if he has had any discussions with the McCain campaign.

The governor issued a straightforward response: "None."