McCain-Pawlenty Looking Better Than McCain-Romney

If Pawlenty is the safe choice, then get ready to hear "President Obama." He was not elected governor either time by an overwhelming majority - people tend to forget that MN is one of the leaders in 3rd party races - nothing more than 35-40% of total votes each time if I recall correctly - 60% being split between 2 other candidates. He was elected by the skin of his teeth - which is why a large majority of Minnesotans are chuckling at the thought he's being taken seriously as a VP contender.

He refuses to raise taxes like the lock-step Republicans do - yet he has done nothing to see that the taxes we do pay get spent efficiently either, you can't insist on one and ignore the other. When we had a supposed surplus, it went nowhere - neither back to the taxpayers nor invested in state programs and infrastructure, schools are underfunded, roads and highways are crumbling, we have record unemployment higher than other states - the first time in MN history that can be said. But it's more important to Pawlenty to say no to the T word, even when he's wrong. To think of what that one-time surplus would have done if it were invested in re-inforcing the 35W bridge instead of more administration?

He's exactly what McCain needs if he wants to further prove that Republicans are stubborn, inflexible, and out of touch with what's happening to the average American - don't let the casual working-class "unknown" persona fool you.

If McCain goes for Pawlenty, it's more a sign of McCain's campaign having trouble than it is about Pawlenty's strength.

Gopher gal of MN 1:26AM August 29, 2008