(CNN) - Republican presidential candidate Tim Pawlenty said he sees his low national poll numbers as an opportunity for his candidacy.
"I like the fact that these folks who are established, well known and yet and there's no real favorite in the face," Pawlenty said Friday on CNN's "American Morning." "So there's a ton of upside for my candidacy and it gives me a chance to introduce myself and put my record from Minnesota out there."
He also appeared unfazed by Sarah Palin's upcoming bus tour.
"This country isn't going to be about rallies or you know bus tours or anything else," Pawlenty said. "This is going to be about a country that is sinking in debt and deficit. We want to have a leader who has actually tackled those issues and doesn't just talk about it."
The former Minnesota governor, who officially announced his bid for the White House on Monday, criticized the current administration and Congress over their reluctance to make sweeping changes to Social Security and Medicare.
"Any doofus can go to Washington and maintain the status quo and that's what we've got in the White House and in Congress in terms of their attitude about their willingness to tackle these issues," Pawlenty said. "If we're not going to have leaders who are going to say that and do it and tell the American people, look them in the eye … then we're all wasting our time."
Pawlenty registers in the single digits in most national 2012 GOP nomination polls of Republicans and Republican-leaning independent voters.
Watch American Morning weekdays 6am to 9am ET. For the latest from American Morning click here.
This guy is definitely presidential and deserves the nomination, and I predict he'll get it. This, coming from a Democrat.
"So there's a ton of upside for my candidacy and it gives me a chance to introduce myself and put my record from Minnesota out there."
Oh, give it up Timmy. You've been introducing yourself for 2 years now, and yet, in most recent polling, you (and ALL of the big names GOPers) are being beat by an even lesser known candidate than you - and being polled as None of the Above. None of the Above is presently leading with 20%. Romney is in second at 17%, and Palin at 15%.
"Any doofus can go to Washington and maintain the status quo and that's what we've got in the White House and in Congress in terms of their attitude about their willingness to tackle these issues"
---------------------------------–
Does that really read the way it actually sounds? (Grammatically it is a "run on" sentence, which means two separate ideas that are best expressed in two separate sentences.) TimPaw just called the President a "doofus", and then went on to express an opinion about the Congress. The criticism from the right is reducing our politics to "Animal House."
Your low polls number are because you are a bad Candidate. You left Minnesota when you were GOV. and left Minnesota Billions dollar In dept. You had bridges fallen down, You are not the type of Person I would want to ran this Country. And I wouldn't know any Republican that ever told the Truth, I know A Lot that have say what they know want people want to hear and Win and do the other thing. Just like In 2010 the Republican ran on getting JOBS, Did the get any NO. All they did was give the RICH a Tax cuts and say this would bring JOBS. It hasn't for SIX YEARS so why would they think It would now. It all about protecting the RICH AND BIG BUSINESS. The Republican party and the Tea Party could care less about the working American People, You all show that with the last years budget cuts and this years so call PAUL RYAN PLAN. That Is a BUNCH OF CRAP, and we know who all voted for that dumb Plan and you will find out In 2012. Because the American People are not going to Believe any more Republican and Tea Party LIES.
"Any doofus can go to Washington and maintain the status quo and that's what we've got in the White House and in Congress in terms of their attitude about their willingness to tackle these issues,"
Very presidential, indeeed.
Well (Jeff) he will lose to Obama. You know the GOP is great at spin......The deficit is very important, but the GOP ran on JOBS, and spending cuts......Spending cuts are in place in the 2011 budget, but where are the JOBS? The President was hired first to stop the freefall of the economy. Only 2 years ago, the DOW was at 6000, and we were losing 500,000 + jobs per month.....
Fast forward today the DOW is at 12000, and we're adding 250,000 jobs per month.......We spent a ton of money getting out of that mess too. Now it's time to pay the bills...... I'm 100% confident that this President will make the right decisions involving deficit reduction.
Are you going to tell the truth to the voters that the Ryan plan would replace Medicare with a voucher system? Herman Cain said Republicans should admit this is what they are doing, how about you?
If he runs on his record from MN then his poll numbers have peaked!
I think his low numbers are due to people (such as myself) finding out more about him and a lot of it isn't pretty. The sad state he left Minnesota in budget-wise, his smoke and mirrors act up there using education, stimulus dollars which he claimed he didn't want, and the backs of the lower income and middle class to balance his budget. PLUS when the story came out he pardoned a sex offender who once released raped his own child numerous times sealed it for many. The latter may be his "Wille Horton" moment once the race begins.
keep explaining away those low poll ratings Timmy....you can bend like a pretzel while youu are at it!!
As I recall, you're approval numbers at the end of your term were not that great either. You barely won your 2nd term and didn't have more than 50% of the vote. Nothing surprising here. By the way, ex-Gov, my local property taxes went up more than 50% during the 8 years you ran MN. So much for Not raising taxes – you just lifted one end of the table and let the increases run down to the local governments.
Wait, who is this guy? The former Governor of Minneso...zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
its along time till nov. 2012...
Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz. This guy has nothing new to offer. Sad to say but he is one of the better Repub candidates. The GOP is in a sad state. No leadership or new ideas. Just a bunch of wackos pandering to "angry old, mainly white people."