Minn.'s Gov. Pawlenty creating 2008 GOP buzz.

[nick]

Although Pawlenty's national name recognition "probably doesn't exceed" 5 percent," the Minneapolis Star-Tribune said recent conversations among national GOP leaders include him alongside former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani; U.S. Sen.John McCain, R-Ariz.;; former House Speaker Newt Gingrich; and other first tier potential candidates for the Republican nomination.

"Of the guys in the top 12 for '08, (Pawlenty's) right up there," said conservative leader Grover Norquist, president of Americans for Tax Reform.

http://www.newkerala.com/news-daily/news/features.php?action=fullnews&id=85769

[Wrecking Ball and Chain]

Hopefully we'll just get rid of him next year. What a dipsh**t.

[nick]

Hopefully we'll just get rid of him next year. What a dipsh**t.

Is he really that bad?

[Wrecking Ball and Chain]

Hopefully we'll just get rid of him next year. What a dipsh**t.

Is he really that bad?

he's a stupid jerkoff who's owned by far right groups like the Minnesota Taxpayers Leage and thinks it's more imporant to ban gay marriage than fix the state's budget problems.

[Wrecking Ball and Chain]

I just made a map of Pawlenty's victory in 2002, but I can't post it.   It surprised me how well Penny (Jesse Ventura's candidate) did- he carried a sizable batch of counties in the southeast and ran second in a number of others.

As to the topic at hand, Pawlenty is a complete joke. He won't get nominated. He won't even be a possible VP.

Dave already has one up:



Penny did so wel lbecause the Indpeendnece Party is pretty big here (or was at the time, they've been collapsing lately) and he was a former congressman from the district I live in and very popular. I still voted for the Democrat though, but all those counties he won or came in second in are because they were in his old seat.

He probably cost the Democrat the election though, going by the figures compared to the Senate race then and the Gore/Kerry numbers I'd guess his voters would've broke 2:1 for Moe without him.

For the record, I live in that big very light blue county on the upper left corner of the green, right at the nexus with the upside down triangle county (which is where I work) and the one to the right of it. Even though Pawlenty won the county with Moe coming in third and Penny in second, Pawlenty came in 3rd in my precinct with Moe winning it. We have much more sense than the rest of the county.

[Rob]

Where does Dave have the state election maps? I don't see any. I'm guessing it's only for paying members?

[Wrecking Ball and Chain]

Nope, just look on the front page at the bottom. Gubernatorial results here: http://uselectionatlas.org/GOVERNOR/frametextj.html

[Rob]

I had no idea. Thanks for telling me

[WalterMitty]

my opinion of pawlenty went way down when he proposed to ban candy flavored cigarettes.

[Wrecking Ball and Chain]

You should've already been pissed at him when he tried to reinstate the death penalty.

[WalterMitty]

You should've already been pissed at him when he tried to reinstate the death penalty.

of course i strongly disagree with the death penalty.  but at least death penalty supporters can make a solid case for its usage (though i disagree with them).

banning flavored cigarettes makes no sense.  adults should be able to purchase those kinds of cigarettes if they so choose.

[jacob_101]

Well, I for one am very happy with Gov. Pawlenty.  There was already a huge deficit when he took office and he has been bringing it down by contolling state spending and increasing fees.  I am not sure i agree with him on the candy cigarette issue, but I know that marketing cigarettes to kids is not a good idea especially since you won't be able to smoke anywhere in the state soon : ) 

I predict Pawlenty will win re-election with about 53% of the vote and then will be in good shape if he wanted to run for President.

[ian]

What are his approval ratings.

[A18]

my opinion of pawlenty went way down when he proposed to ban candy flavored cigarettes.

Ditto. However, I'd still vote for him over a Democratic opponent in 2006 if I lived in Minnesota.

[No more McShame]

I voted for him in 2002.  And probably would have voted for him in 2006 again if I remained in MN, but I can think of several in the GOP that I would rather see win the nomination.

[No more McShame]

Penny did so wel lbecause the Indpeendnece Party is pretty big here (or was at the time, they've been collapsing lately) and he was a former congressman from the district I live in and very popular. I still voted for the Democrat though, but all those counties he won or came in second in are because they were in his old seat.

He probably cost the Democrat the election though, going by the figures compared to the Senate race then and the Gore/Kerry numbers I'd guess his voters would've broke 2:1 for Moe without him.

For the record, I live in that big very light blue county on the upper left corner of the green, right at the nexus with the upside down triangle county (which is where I work) and the one to the right of it. Even though Pawlenty won the county with Moe coming in third and Penny in second, Pawlenty came in 3rd in my precinct with Moe winning it. We have much more sense than the rest of the county.

Mankato?  I don't know if I agree with your analysis that Moe would have won.  Most of the people in those SE counties are conservatives that would vote for a Dem like Penny but not for one like Moe.  Don't think the 2-1 analysis would work in that situation.

[Wrecking Ball and Chain]

Penny did so wel lbecause the Indpeendnece Party is pretty big here (or was at the time, they've been collapsing lately) and he was a former congressman from the district I live in and very popular. I still voted for the Democrat though, but all those counties he won or came in second in are because they were in his old seat.

He probably cost the Democrat the election though, going by the figures compared to the Senate race then and the Gore/Kerry numbers I'd guess his voters would've broke 2:1 for Moe without him.

For the record, I live in that big very light blue county on the upper left corner of the green, right at the nexus with the upside down triangle county (which is where I work) and the one to the right of it. Even though Pawlenty won the county with Moe coming in third and Penny in second, Pawlenty came in 3rd in my precinct with Moe winning it. We have much more sense than the rest of the county.

Mankato?  I don't know if I agree with your analysis that Moe would have won.  Most of the people in those SE counties are conservatives that would vote for a Dem like Penny but not for one like Moe.  Don't think the 2-1 analysis would work in that situation.

Yes, I live in Mankato.

Look at Rice county:

Mondale 52.21%
Coleman 44.59%

Luther 54.64%
Kline 42.12%

Pawlenty 37.62%
Moe 33.78%
Penny 24.34%

and go look at the results for Gore and Kerry there.

And of course there's also the fact that Pawlenty did win Mankato, and in 2 way races Republicans simply don't win here.

[No more McShame]

Still only one county.  Who knows, maybe Moe would have won, I just don't buy this Penny vote breaking 2 to 1 for Moe.  A lot of those people would have stayed home in the off-year and a lot of them may have voted for Pawlenty.

[ArthurBranch]

I dont think Pawlenty can win, although his name does interest me some.  I think Jeb is our only real realistic shot at winning and beating Hillary.

[PBrunsel]

I hope Pawlenty gets reelected. I think he's a fine Governor.