1. Who is he?
Governor Tim Pawlenty was the two-term governor of the great state of Minnesota, serving from 2003 to 2011. Before his time as chief executive, he served ten years in the state house, as majority leader for two terms. Before his political career began, he worked as a lawyer and businessman.
On the Republican political spectrum, Tim Pawlenty is right in the center. While he has been in politics for nearly two decades, he’s not a typical insider because he has never lived in Washington D.C. Tim Pawlenty is not the most conservative candidate in the field (Santorum and Bachmann have that covered), but he governed Minnesota, a fairly blue state, rather conservatively during his time in St. Paul.
Governor Pawlenty will be 51 years old on election day 2012.
2. Why he could win the primary – Biggest advantages
Two things: Executive experience and the big tent
Governor Pawlenty has more executive political experience than anyone else in the Republican field. His record in Minnesota is fairly impressive, especially considering the long line of liberals who preceded him as leaders of his state. As for the big tent, the Republican Party of 2011 consists of several different elements: Tea-Party Conservatives, Social Conservatives, Hawkish Conservatives, and Business Conservatives. Each candidate has a serious problem in appealing to every portion of the Republican base, except for Tim Pawlenty. His position in the middle of the Republican spectrum could potentially give him the support of each element of the Republican tent, with room for expansion towards swing voters.
3. Why he could lose - Biggest weaknesses
Tim Pawlenty has an issue that other candidates do not have: a shortage of passionate rhetoric. Most other Republicans have passionate rhetoric as one of their key strengths, but Pawlenty is not one of them. Many feel that, even though they like Pawlenty and his strengths, they want to see more “fire in his belly.” Unfortunately for Pawlenty, Republicans feel somewhat bored by Governor Pawlenty. This could harm him in the primary, which typically has voters who are “fired up.”
4. What the candidate wants you to see
The Pawlenty campaign has hired excellent people to do his campaign videos.
5. What the candidate does NOT want you to see
From The Hill:
Pawlenty backed cap-and-trade when he was governor of Minnesota and agreed to participate in the multistate Midwest Greenhouse Gas Reduction Accord.
He also cut a radio ad for the Environmental Defense Fund in 2008 that urged Congress to “get moving” and “cap greenhouse gas pollution now.”
Also, many Republicans (including fellow Minnesotan Michele Bachmann) have attacked Tim Pawlenty for budget issues that were left behind in Minnesota. His support for cap and trade, which he has apologized for, might be an issue in the primary, while Minnesota budget issues may be a general election issue.
6. How would he fare against President Obama in Iowa and Ohio
Iowa could potentially vote for Pawlenty over Obama; however, for this to happen, Pawlenty would need to win the Iowa Caucuses, gain the trust of Iowa independents who are generally moderate, and then run a seamless campaign against the incumbent President. Both Iowans and Ohioans would probably like a Midwestern chief executive who has dealt with Midwestern issues, but Pawlenty just doesn’t have either the recognition or the support that he needs right now.
7. Chances he they could win the Presidency
Pawlenty might be the best candidate on paper for the GOP with the potential to unite the fractured GOP and bring in swing voters for the primary election; however, his rhetoric would not match up well with President Obama’s. Pawlenty is a mainstream conservative, and if he made it through to the general election, he might have a chance. However, the primary looks to be his biggest challenge at this point. Thus, the odds are slim that President Pawlenty will take the oath of office in January 2013.
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