Former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty is fighting hard to revive his presidential candidacy with a respectable showing the Ames Straw Poll today, but in his remarks moments ago, it’s clear he could already feel the footsteps of Texas Gov. Rick Perry.
Speaking to straw poll attendees, Pawlenty emphasized his record of implementing conservative policies as governor — something he has done to differentiate himself from fellow Minnesotan Rep. Michele Bachmann, who he’s currently lagging in Iowa.
But that now he has to deal with another formidable challenger in Perry, Pawlenty emphasized that his ability to win statewide in a Democratic state makes him a strong general election candidate who could compete outside of traditional GOP strongholds. While he didn’t explicitly mention Perry by name, it was clear where he was going with his remarks, as people have questioned whether Perry is too Texas to win over the broader electorate.
Passing conservative policies “in Minnesota is something that’s very interesting and very important to know,” Pawlenty said. “We need to not just preach to the choir and make sure we have a candidate that can win in places like Kansas or Oklahoma or some of the great states around this country – Alabama, Georgia and the like, wonderful states. We also have to have candidates who can come up in the Midwest, in the Great Lake states, in Iowa, Wisconsin, in Ohio, in Pennsylvania, and take the conservative message and get others to join our cause so we can win this election and get this country back. I won – I got elected and reelected in one of the most difficult political states in the country for Republicans, the state of Minnesota. And I’ll carry those states as a candidate for president.”
Electability arguments are often losers in primaries (just ask President Giuliani), but if Pawlenty has any chance of challenging Perry as the alternative to frontrunner Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, this is likely his best chance of doing so.
