Pawlenty Lays A Foundation
Dispatches From CPAC
As he works to bolster his national profile, MN Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R) is spending a lot of time introducing himself to conservative activists, though the first impression he gives off may not be the one he's aiming for.
Addressing a nearly full ballroom as the first major speaker of the day, Pawlenty offered his background and 4 principles on which his early WH exploration will focus, including religious values, fiscal conservatism, low taxes and a robust approach to national security and foreign policy.
But conservative activists who have seen Pawlenty early in his exploratory phase are not coming out of their seats -- and, whether because of the early-morning speaking slot or his own speech, read from block notes rather than a teleprompter or a typed manuscript, few gave him a standing ovation this morning.
Pawlenty will offer himself as the most electable contender. Coming from a state that elected liberals like Paul Wellstone, Hubert Humphrey and Eugene McCarthy -- and the only state that voted for Walter Mondale over Ronald Reagan in '84 -- he has a compelling message.
Pawlenty also sent a subtle signal by tapping Americans for Tax Reform pres. Grover Norquist to introduce him. Norquist, a minor celebrity in his own right among conservatives at CPAC, would give Pawlenty instant credibility among fiscal and movement conservatives, and among the establishment in DC.
And Pawlenty, who is becoming known for his jokes and barbs on the campaign trail, compared Pres. Obama to Tiger Woods, who apologized for his behavior in a media event broadcast across the country earlier today.
"We can learn a lot from that situation. Not from Tiger, but from his wife. So she said, 'I've had enough.' She said, 'No more.' I think we should take a page out of her playbook and take a 9-iron and smash the window out of big government in this country," Pawlenty said.
Still, Pawlenty fell short of the overwhelming ovations other speakers won. On Thursday, ex-MA Gov. Mitt Romney and ex-FL House Speaker Marco Rubio won bigger applause from attendees, while Rep. Mike Pence (R-IN) earned more ovations than Pawlenty on Friday.
Conservative activists and professionals who have seen Pawlenty in action have questioned whether he is capable of firing up a crowd. Though he has given several major speeches before prominent conservative organizations, none have elicited rave reviews that other contenders offer.
He has the resume, and he has the record, to attract That, going forward, may be Pawlenty's biggest challenge.
You mean Walter Mondale in 1984, not Humphrey.
HAHAHA.
Pawlenty also sent a subtle signal by tapping Americans for Tax Reform pres. Grover Norquist to introduce him
Desperation.
I think we should take a page out of her playbook and take a 9-iron and smash the window out of big government in this country
Violence.
Yeah, real attractive candidate. What a joke.
"Pawlenty will offer himself as the most electable contender. Coming from a state that elected liberals like Paul Wellstone, Hubert Humphrey and Eugene McCarthy -- and the only state that voted for Humphrey over Ronald Reagan in '84 -- he has a compelling message."
Uh, I think you mean Mondale in '84, not Humphrey.