Pawlenty Tries to Rev up Presidential Campaign by Doubling Down in Iowa
- Posted on July 30, 2011 at 9:45am by
Scott Baker
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Despite weeks of languishing in the polls, Republican presidential candidate Tim Pawlenty continues to show determination in Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall, File)
ANKENY, Iowa (AP) — Republican presidential candidate Tim Pawlenty has been reading his own political obituary for weeks. But he’s still alive as he campaigns across Iowa.
Even though the air conditioner had died on his campaign RV somewhere between Oskaloosa and Osceola, the former Minnesota governor showed little sweat as he faced intense pressure to prove he’s a viable candidate.
He was at ease in the midst of a 1,500-mile Iowa campaign tour, playing a pickup hockey game, joking with audiences and sticking to his pitch: Republicans need to nominate as the challenger to Democratic President Barack Obama a pragmatic, swing-state governor known more for getting things done than giving good speeches.
“It gives me energy,” Pawlenty said of his wall-to-wall campaigning as he leaned back in a chair during an Associated Press interview as a 15-hour campaign day wound down. Still, he allowed: “I have my days where, like everybody else, I’m a little tired.”
Who wouldn’t be after visiting 36 towns and cities in two weeks and meeting with more than 1,500 GOP activists during a sweltering Midwest summer?
With wife Mary and older daughter Anna at his side, Pawlenty spent much of his time campaigning within 100 miles of where a test vote on the GOP field will be held Aug. 13. He plans to do the same in the week leading up to the Iowa Republican straw poll at Iowa State University, a test of organizational strength and popularity that Pawlenty predicts will show he’s making progress.
Despite spending the past 18 months building a campaign for the leadoff caucuses, Pawlenty has faced a series of bumps in the road this summer, including a rocky debate performance, lackluster fundraising and a poor single-digit showing in early Iowa polls in the wake of Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann’s rise.
Undeterred, the low-key Midwesterner brushes off conventional wisdom inside political circles that says he’s in trouble, if not using the naysaying as motivation; he’s pressing ahead with his workmanlike approach to winning over Iowa Republicans and putting his back into his Iowa campaign with a steady-as-she-goes demeanor.
“You can’t move the needle by showing up and giving a speech here or there,” he said. “You’ve got to have a sustained comprehensive concentrated campaign, and in the last three weeks we’ve had that.”
He’s also had a robust television, radio and direct mail presence. And he’s had a sharper tone against Bachmann, painting his home state rival and tea-party favorite as an inexperienced speech-maker in an effort to cast himself as the seasoned executive ready to lead the party and beat Obama.
For now at least, Pawlenty is publicly keeping the faith in a campaign formula of early organizing and internal patience.
AP
He didn‘t flinch when someone asked during a town hall meeting at a Pizza Ranch restaurant in Story City why he wasn’t gaining traction.
Instead, Pawlenty calmly repeated an answer he’s honed over the months as better-known GOP candidates have continued to flirt with running in 2012: “It’s the flavor-of-the-month phenomenon where somebody new emerges and there’s the initial buzz around that candidate.”
“It’s a long journey. It’s not something like a big comet,” he added — on the same day as news that former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin would visit Iowa reignited speculation about her plans.
Months ago, Pawlenty suggested that he needed to win or do very well in Iowa, and a number of top Iowa Republicans say he will have a hard time continuing in the race if he doesn’t win the caucuses next winter. Among them is Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad, who argues Pawlenty shouldn’t be counted out just yet.
“He’s kind of like the tortoise that just keeps going,” Branstad said in an AP interview. “He’s putting a strong organization together. He’s working at it. He’s putting the time in here. That‘s why I’m saying ‘don’t just write him off.’ That effort and getting the right people on board — come January he might be in a much stronger position.”
There are inklings of improvement; his audiences have been growing in some places, including a surprising 125 in Davenport on a weekday afternoon. Other venues have been full but sparser, a sign that more work must be done.
Aides say the harsh summer reality has helped them tamp down expectations. They report a spark of renewed energy inside Pawlenty’s Iowa headquarters in Urbandale since June when Pawlenty hired Sarah Huckabee, a top aide to her father Mike Huckabee’s winning 2008 Iowa caucus campaign, to restore focus to the campaign.
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Comments (94)
fatsomann
Posted on July 30, 2011 at 11:38amNo.
Report Post »dwh320
Posted on July 30, 2011 at 2:11pmHe had a chance to set himself apart but chose instead to cuddle up to the good ol boy establishment types. He is just more of the same crap in a new package. We dont need more crap…. we need a leader and he is not that person.
Report Post »Rational Man
Posted on July 30, 2011 at 2:27pmTim,…who?
Report Post »Uncurable wound
Posted on July 30, 2011 at 5:25pmThis guy is terrible.We are just finding out about all the tricks he played with the budget numbers here in Minnesota,to set himself up for his presi run. TOTAL & COMPLETE RINO…
Report Post »jhaydeng
Posted on July 30, 2011 at 10:27pmDone
Report Post »Doc_Slammin
Posted on July 30, 2011 at 11:04pm@FATSOMANN
Sentiment echoed! RINO finish last in this election cycle.
Report Post »PATTY HENRY
Posted on July 30, 2011 at 11:37amI don‘t even think he’s a “NICE GUY”…he’s just another phony…and he is gutless. He allowed
SHARIA to be practiced in parts of MN. HE also attacked others and didn’t have the guts
to say it to their faces.
WE NEED PALIN. WE need guts and “WHAT YOU SEE IS WHAT YOU GET” people in office
and this mess about COMPROMISE??
NO. we don’t need COMPROMISE…that’s a Liberal philosophy which means NO ONE WINS.
THERE is a right/ there is a wrong. THERE IS A foolish/ there is a WISE. WISE doesn’t compromise with foolish. WISE shows foolish the best paths for the goal they may both share…the betterment of AMERICA.
Pawlenty has 0 capacity to take on America’s problems today. PALIN/WEST will not only take them on, they will turn AMERICA around and everyone will love them (from both sides) because PALIN is not out for PALIN…she is out for AMERICA and that doesn’t mean 50% of the people…but ALL of the people…Read her books – go see THE UNDEFEATED
The MSM and the far left loons under Satan Himself George Soros tried their best to kill her but they didn’t realize she is not just a WOMAN…she is the Heart and Soul of AMERICA. Pawlenty needs to fade away and quit taking campaign dollars (if any are still coming in).
Report Post »Kara
Posted on July 30, 2011 at 12:23pmI agree. Palin/West 2012!
Report Post »godlovinmom
Posted on July 30, 2011 at 12:42pmI totally agree also…someone with a backbone would be nice…I believe Sarah has it!..She has proven she can take it…and also dish it back harder…I’m tired of politicians like Pawlenty…time for some change alright!
Report Post »quiltgal
Posted on July 30, 2011 at 1:07pmI concur also.
Report Post »fdempster
Posted on July 30, 2011 at 1:44pmDidn’t know he was still running…
Report Post »Rational Man
Posted on July 30, 2011 at 2:34pmI pretty much agree with your post, but I’m not as sure about West as I was before he caved in and threw his support behind the latest Boehner budget bill. I didn’t hear him speaking out as much about the Cap, Cut and Balance bill……………………
Report Post »WFB
Posted on July 31, 2011 at 4:08amPalin can’t win. Hands down.
Report Post »godlovinmom
Posted on July 31, 2011 at 9:50amI wouldn’t be so sure about that…alot more Americans can “relate” to Sarah Palin then we can with President Obama…Obama seems so…Anti American
Report Post »dumbugga
Posted on July 30, 2011 at 11:37amI can’t understand why this man who is willing to reach across the aisle (and sit down with) the left is doing so poorly.
Report Post »We need even more moderates in government like Timmy to push for ethanol subsidies, promote the global warming hoax, and support cap and trade!
Can you say RINO?
calebgs83
Posted on July 30, 2011 at 11:27amNo. He is a RINO. He is uninspiring, and he lacks the balls to relentlessly attack Obama.
Report Post »flipper1073
Posted on July 30, 2011 at 11:27amWhy don’t these Progressive RINOs go away So we can get to the Business of
Report Post »Nominating a true Conservative to Beat Obama in 2012 ? Oh I forgot She hasn’t
Announced She’s running YET .
ChristianFamily
Posted on July 30, 2011 at 1:09pmI love Palin too but she will give Obama a second term if she runs. She’s radioactive. She just needs to cheerlead on the sideline and be a King-Maker!!
Report Post »WFB
Posted on July 31, 2011 at 4:07amPalin could never, ever, ever, ever, win.
Report Post »swimmer1940
Posted on July 30, 2011 at 11:25amGovernor Pawlenty was the one, bright star in his State of Minnesota. He is deserving of more attention simply because he managed to hold Minnesota spending in line, and wielded a mighty veto pen.
Report Post »Now, for governor, we are stuck with a black hole that insists on trying to suck all the energy into himself.
Southernguy
Posted on July 30, 2011 at 11:12amDude, just go home. You aint got a snowball’s chance in hell.
Report Post »Simonne
Posted on July 30, 2011 at 11:10amI like him but he should have attacked Romney in the debate. I don’t have a problem with him attacking Bachmann because it is politics. He is just trying to continue being in the run. I’m not too happy with Bachmann after her vote. I’m basically waiting for Perry to jump in because I find him more interesting than the other candidates. I’m a moderate to conservative person & calling anyone rino because you don‘t agree entirely with them is rather ridiculous to me because I can’t think of ever agreeing completely with any candidate, past or present.
Report Post »boomboom
Posted on July 30, 2011 at 11:04amFreekin’ Mr. Rodgers…Meow ma meow meow meow.
Report Post »kickagrandma
Posted on July 30, 2011 at 10:54amNo.
I wish the Republicans and Tea Party would go together and present an unbeatable slate:
Report Post »Either Mr. Herman Cain OR Rep. Allen West for President
Mrs. Palin OR Mrs. Bachmann OR Mrs. Brewer for Veep
Keep the slate going: UP FRONT, NO SECRETS, NO PAY-BACKS, just a straight slate of SERVANTS to and for WE THE PEOPLE.
If Rep. Allen West is not the nominee for President, then put him in as Secretary of Defense.
Mr. John Bolton as Secretary of State.
NO czars allowed; only a working Cabinet.
GrammaMoses
Posted on July 30, 2011 at 10:56amAllen West is my choice … hope he gets in soon or he will never get the momentum
Report Post »arnobp
Posted on July 30, 2011 at 2:02pmYou “tea party express” and “9/12 project” people are hilarious, you continue to push the same old tired neo-cons, you are either confused or just disingenuous. It is time for true conservatism, and an America First policy, not the Israel first policy you all have been trying to push.
Ron Paul / Andrew Napolitano is THE 2012 ticket
Report Post »GrammaMoses
Posted on July 30, 2011 at 10:54amPawlenty lost me with his personal attacks. When a politician relies on slapping someone instead of discussing the issues they are not worth my time.
Report Post »DaBig2na
Posted on August 1, 2011 at 7:54amSame here! He should have went after BHO instead of Michelle Bachman.
Tim, I was an advocate of yours before anyone knew who you were. You killed when you slammed Bachman.
Report Post »Tankertony
Posted on July 30, 2011 at 10:44amNo.
Report Post »Sarah will win it, in a landslide.
godlovinmom
Posted on July 30, 2011 at 1:04pmMan I hope you’re right…but I will lose my very libral sister…it was bad enough when Bush was pres..she’ll lose her mind if Sarah wins…I guess they‘ll feel what we’ve been “feeling” for 2 1/2 years now, won’t they?
Report Post »jedi.kep
Posted on July 30, 2011 at 10:38amTim, go away. We do not need a wet noodle for a president. We need someone with guts and a backbone.
Report Post »ecurbyy
Posted on July 31, 2011 at 10:55amEver heard of Ron Paul? If you’re looking for conviction, honesty and a return to liberty, freedom and prosperity, you wont find a better choice for 2012.
Report Post »rockstone
Posted on July 30, 2011 at 10:37amJeeeeezzzz. We will never, ever get decent candidates as long as we with baited breath to find out what a bunch of people (nice people mind you) in a small state will do. That’s what enables this guy to still do this and come out a winner when even though nationally, he is cooked, well done, RINO meat.
Someone does well in Iowa and we here in Texas have to jump and take notice? I don’t think so. Not anymore. And that goes double for New Hampshire.
Stop this insantiy.
Report Post »mattmo79
Posted on July 30, 2011 at 10:35amIf he can’t in a debate amongst his peers, how can he win one against Obama? And stop attacking Bachmann, she’s not who your running against. If TPaw had half of Bachmann‘s tenacity he wouldn’t be bringing up the rear.
Report Post »1bambam
Posted on July 30, 2011 at 10:29amwhy bother are you that much of a narcissist and an ego maniac,,,,People see right through you any that phony facade of yours for you to be so DESPERATE an attack Michelle Bachmann who has been fighting for us the American people going up against obstacles and walls daily saying she has no record you should be ashamed of yourself but like all Narcissist you can’t even see your own pathetic behavior…….Now do us and yourself a favor and Go Home Timmy
Report Post »CatB
Posted on July 30, 2011 at 10:29amNope!
TEA!
Report Post »momprayn
Posted on July 30, 2011 at 10:22amDitto to the comments about him being a RINO, etc. — He’s a goner — Michele wins.
Report Post »Son_of_Liberty
Posted on July 30, 2011 at 10:21amRon Paul 2012
3%
Report Post »Mr. Oshawott
Posted on July 30, 2011 at 10:35am@Son of Liberty
I second that. ^_^
Report Post »goobert
Posted on July 30, 2011 at 11:26amRon Paul 2012 I’m woundering if the tea party will make him speaker for the next 1.5 years considering Boehner is giving in too much.
Report Post »quiltgal
Posted on July 30, 2011 at 1:30pmRon Paul is one of the few politicians who make sense to me. He knows what he’s talking about fiscally and he explains it honestly and clearly. He‘s not afraid to tell us exactly where he stands and he doesn’t give us a lot of useless rhetoric. He truly believes what he says and he’s been saying the same thing for years, i.e. we are heading for big trouble because we are spending too much. We NEED Ron Paul in a high position. President, Cabinet Member, or Speaker would be great!
Report Post »arnobp
Posted on July 30, 2011 at 1:51pmRon Paul is the only option for 2012. Palin and Bachmann aren’t all bad…they can continue to ride the good doctor’s coattails.
Report Post »ireport uderide
Posted on July 30, 2011 at 10:20amWell at least he didn’t bash Bachmann this time. Stay focused Republicans, your advesary is:
Report Post »He Who Must Not Be Named….
ireport uderide
Posted on July 30, 2011 at 10:21amoops…“adversary”. You nit pickers…lol
Report Post »lel2007
Posted on July 30, 2011 at 10:17amNot the Conservative America needs. But if you’re looking for polotics as usual with plenty of liberal tax & spend Pawlenty would be your man. Maybe he’ll team up with Huntsman or Huck.
Report Post »nysparkie
Posted on July 30, 2011 at 10:15amRINO….enough said…..get out of town.
Report Post »tobywil2
Posted on July 30, 2011 at 10:08amRINO, RINO, WHERE FORE ART THOU, RINO. The more the merrier, Any thing that dilutes the RINO vote is welcome. http://commonsense21c.com/
Report Post »quicker
Posted on July 30, 2011 at 9:58amAs far as I`m concerned he not even on my radar .I put him on the same level as Huntsmen.However Herman Caine has went down some too.And I wished that we could get Texas Ted Poe to run.
Report Post »glennisright.com
Posted on July 30, 2011 at 9:56amHe’s a nice guy, but I just don’t think he has what it takes to win.
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