Ames, Iowa (CNN) - Hoping to avoid an underwhelming straw poll finish that could derail his campaign, former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty delivered a message of electability to an arena full of Republicans in Ames on Saturday.
“I won and got re-elected in one of the most difficult states in the country for a Republican,” he said, promising to carry purple and blue states in a general election match-up against President Barack Obama.
Pawlenty was not-so-subtly reminding straw poll voters that his chief rival in Iowa, Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann, might have a difficult time winning over swing voters in 2012.
Standing on the same stage where he criticized Bachmann’s underwhelming record in Congress just two nights before in a nationally televised debate, Pawlenty said he has a record to run on.
“We don’t just talk about it,” he said. “We got the job done for Minnesota.”
Little Timmy must be reading is "Power of Positive Thinking" book again.
TIM PAWLENTY HAS TWO ISSUES THAT ARE TOO HARD TO GET AROUND . . .
(FACT #1.) – Actually, the facts show that Pawlenty left Minnesota in an economical mess. He played shell-games with Minnesota's budget and just passed the difficult economic issues down the road for the next governor.
(FACT #2.) – Perception means a lot, and Pawlenty is perceived by many and across all political spectrums as a 20-pound weakling. Whether the perception is rightfully earned or not, that is just the reality.
POOR PAWLENTY
If asked which 'cat' best illustrates Pawlenty's personality or aura:
(a.) – Lion
(b.) – Tiger
(c.) – Cheetah
(d.) – Panther
(e.) – Pussycat (Persian Kitty)
The answer is: 'E'.
One good thing to come out of all this hoopla over a state fair and it's straw poll in Hicksville, we will no longer be hearing from pathetic Pawlenty!
When it comes to rights, Republicans say corporations are people. But when it comes to the responsibilities of personhood – like paying taxes, being sued for negligence or criminal manslaughter, that sort of thing – their response is "Are you crazy? We're talking about corporations here, not people."
you can't and will never win you moron. Go away and hide for a long time.
I really wonder if either of Pawlety or Bachmann could really win the general election against Obama since they don't attract the middle. Pawlenty is so boring that it could hurt him even if he had great ideas (which he doesn't). Bachman is so crazy that she will alienate people in the middle. This tea group will break apart the GOP further after George W. Bush broke the Reagan coalition.
Mr. Pawlenty, I believe you have a better chance of losing than winning.
But you LOST!!! lmao Third is a good place to be – I guess – but not a 'distant' third!!