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Source: McCain Vice President Search Now Focuses on Pawlenty

June 19, 2008 RSS Feed Print

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We may be at the flavor-of-the week point in the vice presidential sweepstakes, but that flavor right now for Team McCain is the environment-loving, hockey-playing governor of Minnesota, Tim Pawlenty. That tidbit is courtesy of a high-ranking McCain campaign official and reflects what I've been hearing of late among GOP activists. (John McCain is in the Twin Cities today for a town hall meeting and a fundraiser.)

Internal McCain polls show that adding Pawlenty, 47, to the ticket would help McCain win not only Minnesota but also the neighboring state of Wisconsin. Both are close swing states. In 2004, John Kerry beat President Bush by 3.48 percentage points in Minnesota and 0.38 percentage point in Wisconsin. In 2000, Al Gore beat Bush by 2.4 points in Minnesota and 0.22 in Wisconsin.

This all validates my theory that Team McCain is pursuing a "Big 10" victory strategy, trying to win the states from the college football conference, especially Ohio, Pennsylvania, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. This path could result in McCain losing the popular vote but winning the electoral vote.

Pawlenty was an early McCain backer and will host tonight's fundraiser for the candidate. The governor told the Minneapolis Star-Tribune yesterday that he's had no talks with the campaign about the veep slot. The paper also quotes a close Pawlenty confidant as saying he believed the governor has a fifty-fifty chance at getting the nod.

Tags:: running mates,; Tim Pawlenty,; 2008 presidential election,; John McCain

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I am from Wisconsin and am hoping for Romney as a VP choice. He would make lunch meat out of any of the democratic candidates in the debates. We need someone on the ticket who can clearly articulate our platform. Senator McCain is improving, but Romney definitely would be a great choice. He is great in economics and we sure could use that.

Laura of WI 7:45PM August 25, 2008

I do think that getting states like OH, PA, MN, WI is a good strategy. But I think picking a successful woman or black with executive experience would be a strong tactic.
And I've seen Carly Fiorina on Meet the Press and she could DOMINATE who ever BHO would pick as his VP - hell - she could take BHO on and obliterate HIM in a debate.
Of course - despite the fact that republicans have done far more for minorities that Democraps, somehow McCain would not get credit with the MSM.
Daniel, your theory made me laugh - but it might bring some of the bitter Hilary supporters into BHO's camp.

Voter Jailed in 2004 election for questioning misleading ballot of OH 6:52PM July 29, 2008

Pawlenty may have some great points to him, but he's absolutely unexciting to most conservatives in comparison with Romney. Romeny has proven he can win key states, raise huge capital, and has a lot of recognition which is priceless. He's an economic whiz, and has credibility in that area and foreign relations due to his success at Bain Capital, the Olympics in Salt Lake, etc. There's no need to guess about what states Pawlenty might help win, when Romney is popular in that area and could help put Michigan and other states over the top. I'm concerned that McCain is just going to surround himself with Yes-men, not those who are the most qualified. I am also not at all excited about McCain picking a woman just to pacify women...and I say this as a woman. I'm also an evangelical Christian, and by and large most of us have no problem with Romney, if that is anyone's concern. We're smart enough and grown up enough to see the issues facing our country supercede some spoiled religious bias. Go with the qualifications and proven electability, and it's Romney. McCain needs to quit dragging this decision out, too. We're getting so sick of Obama-mania, and with the usual partisan game (on both sides) of choosing cronies instead of the ones who can really get jobs done for the American people. It's time to give us a ticket we can vote for and get excited about the election at last. It's going to take a solid VP to get us over that hump, and it should be Romney.

Mary of CO 12:12PM July 29, 2008

Source: McCain Vice President Search Now Focuses on Pawlenty

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