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Former Gov. Pawlenty running for prez
By BRIAN BAKST
Last Updated: 10:47 PM, May 22, 2011
Posted: 10:43 PM, May 22, 2011

DES MOINES, Iowa — Republican Tim Pawlenty offered a sneak peak today at his presidential kickoff, blasting out an Internet video in which he promises a campaign that "tells the American people the truth" and suggests that President Barack Obama doesn't.

In the new video, the former Minnesota governor formally declares he's running for president, something aides said he'd do in person Monday morning during a town hall forum in Iowa. Pawlenty bypassed a launch in his home state to make his inaugural appearance as a candidate in the state that holds the leadoff caucuses, which he acknowledges he must fare well in to preserve his hopes of the Republican nomination.

He says in the video that the country needs a president who will be frank with Americans about the severe challenges facing the country and how America can get back on track. He mentions the climbing federal debt and a slow recovery from the economic recession that's left millions jobless.

"We're going to have to do more than just give fancy speeches; we've had three years of that and it's not working," Pawlenty says. "Join me tomorrow and around the country in the days and weeks ahead. You won't hear empty promises, you'll hear solutions."

The hard swipes at Obama are central to Pawlenty's effort to prove to Republican primary voters that he's tough enough to take on the Democrat. He's combatting an impression that he's too nice to be an aggressive challenger.

Pawlenty makes no mention of prospective Republican rivals he'll have to outlast to get his shot at Obama. Among the Republicans who have taken formal steps toward a White House campaign are former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum and Texas Rep. Ron Paul................................>>>>...............>>>>.................Read more: http://www.nypost.com/p/news/p.....Nn9GKL#ixzz1NGiPhKZ1

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Tim Pawlenty Quits: Former Governor Drops Out Of Presidential Race
By BRIAN BAKST   08/14/11 08:48 AM ET    

ST. PAUL, Minn. -- Former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty is dropping out of the race for the GOP presidential nomination.

Pawlenty told supporters on a conference call Sunday morning that he would announce on ABC's "This Week" that he was ending his campaign after a disappointing finish in the Iowa straw poll on Saturday......................>>>>..............>>>>....................http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/08/14/tim-pawlenty-quits_n_926405.html

One down!!

I think that Perry's entering the race had more to do with Pawlenty's withdrawal than the results of the Iowa Straw Poll  .....

I wouldn't be surprised if Pawlenty doesn't end up as Perry's running mate  --- although I think Mitch Daniels and Rick Santorum are on the top of the potential VP nominee list.

The Iowa Straw Poll has been held 6 times since 1979 ---    only 2 of the 5  winners eventually won the GOP nominee in that election cycle   .... and of those only 1 .. George W. Bush ended up winning the Presidential election.      ANALYSIS -- the Iowa Straw Poll is basically meaningless as a tool in predicting who will win the GOP presidential nomination.

ANALYSIS----diversionary tool at best....it's there to make an effigy of the voters

Never liked Pawlenty for pres. Don't really like any of the candidates except Paul....obviously! BUT....there are, after all, FIFTEEN MORE MONTHS!! We don't wanna have 'presidential burn out' like we did in the last presidential election.