Pawlenty: I’ll be in Minnesota at the state fair tomorrow; Update: Pawlenty headlines “Meet the Press” this weekend
posted at 4:14 pm on August 28, 2008 by Allahpundit
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We’re on 24-hour VP watch now so might as well throw up a post about this. Drudge is red-fonting the fact that he’s mysteriously canceled some public appearances — but then how to explain this?
Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, on the short list of possible GOP vice presidential picks, said he plans to be home at the state fair for a radio show appearance Friday, when Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) is expected to announce his running mate.
Pawlenty was the main attraction at a press conference to highlight Republicans’ argument that Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) is “not ready” to be president. Pawlenty referred all questions about the ticket to the McCain campaign.
“On issues relating to the vice presidency, that’s obviously Sen. McCain’s decision,” Pawlenty said. “The McCain campaign will be making those announcements [Friday] presumably.”
Roll Call doesn’t specify when he said that so maybe he got the call from McCain after the press conference. Or maybe it’s a head fake coordinated by the campaign to throw the media off the trail. Or maybe it’s a Bidenesque “I’m not the guy” bald-faced lie before the announcement. All theories welcome!
The closer we get, the more I find myself in the same boat as Ross Douthat. I crave an exciting pick, but the only excitement available is Jindal or Palin and they’re both simply too green for McCain’s message (as is, er, Pawlenty). We’re bound to be disappointed. Pessimismania!
Update: Sounds like the presser at which he made the state fair comment happened before he canceled his appearances, so maybe he did get the call late:
Pawlenty, in Denver to criticize Democrats on McCain’s behalf, canceled without explanation an afternoon roundtable interview with the AP as well as other media interviews. Questioned about the vice presidential selection earlier, Pawlenty would only say that he is to be in Minnesota on Friday for the state fair. He had cautioned during a series of morning TV interviews that while speculation might be fun, “most of it turns out to be inaccurate.”
Update: Meanwhile, more whispers of Secret Service sweeps at Romney family homes.
Update: Hold the phone. The Secret Service says the Romney rumors are indeed just rumors.
Update: Hmmmmm.
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Alaska isn’t sexy enough to win…all you here is Oil and a senator who is indicted
tomas on August 28, 2008 at 5:00 PM
Who knows? Not me. I don’t even want to venture a guess. I am wrong way too many times to think my hunches mean a thing.
Terrye on August 28, 2008 at 5:00 PM
Nothing wrong with wishing and a wanting. Right?
upinak on August 28, 2008 at 5:00 PM
who also won his primary again. Yeah… Oil, and a Senator.
Troll!
upinak on August 28, 2008 at 5:01 PM
Palin please please please let it be Palin
DerKrieger on August 28, 2008 at 5:02 PM
Shut the hell up traitor
tomas on August 28, 2008 at 5:02 PM
“I’m too sexy for my oil. Too sexy for my oil, I will make your blood boil!”
My god I’m dating myself…
Sakaki on August 28, 2008 at 5:02 PM
OK, I will go “out on a limb” and take my last and final “wild a$$ guess” and say that McCain has picked Pawlenty.
MB4 on August 28, 2008 at 5:02 PM
Nope, not at all. It’s like the month-long wait up for Christmas. Don’t let “instant gratification” spoil it.
Marking Time on August 28, 2008 at 5:03 PM
Pawlenty is awesome.
tomas on August 28, 2008 at 5:03 PM
Crap.
upinak on August 28, 2008 at 5:04 PM
I am Palin, you know what I mean and I do this little turn on the Pipeline.. On the Piepline.. Oh on the Pipeline. I shake the legislature on the pipeline!
Whoa.. look what you did!
upinak on August 28, 2008 at 5:05 PM
My apologies. I could have sworn I’d read that somewhere months ago. Can’t find anything about it now. *Shrug.*
Beo on August 28, 2008 at 5:06 PM
McCain is going to be in St louis on Sunday. Pawlenty is the host so is good reason he would be setting things up in Minnesota.
Pawlenty is also suppose to speak on the first and last night. I kind think it might not be him.
William Amos on August 28, 2008 at 5:07 PM
is this the “leak”?
http://www.betanews.com/article/Paid_Google_ad_appears_to_state_McCain_picked_Lieberman/1219953383
RiteWingFascist on August 28, 2008 at 5:07 PM
Pawlenty promised in 2006 to serve out his term as governor.
That’s two months of Obama ads right there. Please tell me it’s not Pawlenty.
Ronnie on August 28, 2008 at 5:08 PM
I don’t know much about Pawlenty, but part of the image that Obama is under-qualified comes from the fact that he’s young, that he was only born in 1962 (?) or thereabouts. Pawlenty has more experience than Obama, but he’s not much older; he was born in 1960. For people who equate age with experience, choosing Pawlenty as a running-mate might evacuate McCain’s argument that Obama doesn’t have the necessary experience to be President.
JS on August 28, 2008 at 5:09 PM
Have you tried it? Nothing there
ConservativePartyNow on August 28, 2008 at 5:09 PM
BTW Charlie Chris has confimed he is not the VP
William Amos on August 28, 2008 at 5:09 PM
Biden said he would never accept the VP spot. Hit back, hit back hard.
DerKrieger on August 28, 2008 at 5:09 PM
I have, but if you read the article they state the timeline of trying the search and the results returned when clicking on it.
RiteWingFascist on August 28, 2008 at 5:10 PM
Hallelujah!
ConservativePartyNow on August 28, 2008 at 5:10 PM
Yes, I’m definitely detecting a leak. Whoever put that together may want to open a window.
Ronnie on August 28, 2008 at 5:11 PM
Ditto
DerKrieger on August 28, 2008 at 5:11 PM
I don’t care if he is a Maverick or not. Picking Lieberman is poor judgement is every sense of the word as well as lacks common sense.
upinak on August 28, 2008 at 5:13 PM
I spelled out who the choice would be and why last night. People bringing up Palin and Hutchison and others who are not even on the vetting list that McCain’s campaign released are just throwing darts.
Vashta.Nerada on August 28, 2008 at 5:13 PM
Last week called. They want their news back.
The Race Card on August 28, 2008 at 5:14 PM
“Pessimismania!” – might be a good name for the breakaway site Allahpundit creates when Michelle Malkin’s optimistic take on the GOP just gets to be too much for him.
The overriding of Pawlenty’s ‘06 promise would be small change. Lots of politicians have broken similar promises without ever getting a phone call from their party’s presidential nominee.
I’m hoping McCain picks Kate Beckinsale, even if she is too young and British.
CK MacLeod on August 28, 2008 at 5:15 PM
At The Corner they have a post that says that KBH says it’s not her and she thinks it’s Mitt.
dmarie on August 28, 2008 at 5:15 PM
If Im right I think all Pawlenty is doing is setting things up for John McCain. Not as VP but as a national co-chair.
Im betting McCain told him to go home and get things ready for him and his VP.
William Amos on August 28, 2008 at 5:15 PM
Sen. Hutchison is Out [Rich Lowry]
I’m told, although I didn’t see it, that KBH said on Fox that’s it’s not her, and that she thinks it’s Mitt.
Elizabetty on August 28, 2008 at 5:15 PM
Even I don’t think that McCain would be so McVain that he would yet again say, “#uck you!” to conservatives by picking Lieberman.
I think it’s just a McRuse so that if McCain picks anyone even half way acceptable to conservatives that choice will be seen as wonderful.
MB4 on August 28, 2008 at 5:16 PM
The above should be in Quotes
From the corner
Elizabetty on August 28, 2008 at 5:16 PM
William.. you seem to know what is going on. You called out a few and it was correct. I want your humble opinion on who?
upinak on August 28, 2008 at 5:17 PM
I don’t know about wonderful.
upinak on August 28, 2008 at 5:20 PM
I think after all the Lieberman and Hutchinson talk, we’d just settle for “acceptable.”
Beo on August 28, 2008 at 5:21 PM
It is Mitt Romney
Vashta.Nerada on August 28, 2008 at 5:21 PM
I went to the local GOP and was disappointed the place was dead.
So I have no breaking news on that. McCain is flying into dayton as we speak. Im sure the VP candidate will be here tonight as well for breifings.
Pawlenty from what I can tell is on his way to Minnesota. Mitt is in California and Joe Liebermann is in New York. No sign that they are going anywhere.
I cant find any stories on Sarah Palin. As far as I can tel she is still in Alaska but she is off the radar. As is Eric Cantor.
Petraeus last time I checked was in pakistan so I was hoping to offer him as a wild card.
My bet is still that its Eric Cantor.
William Amos on August 28, 2008 at 5:22 PM
Pawlenty: Zzzzzzzzzz.
Philly on August 28, 2008 at 5:22 PM
It may well be. He is a well qualified person. But in politics, perception is reality, and his perceived minuses outweigh his perceived plusses. I think a Romney pick would deflate the balloon more than inflate it.
Beo on August 28, 2008 at 5:23 PM
William as much as I like you I hope you are wrong.
upinak on August 28, 2008 at 5:26 PM
Since he dropped out in February, Mitt Romney has repeatedly said that though he would be honored to serve if asked, he sincerely did not expect to be. Recently he repeated his assumption that he would not be asked and added that he personally thinks it will be Pawlenty.
So you Pawlenty advocates are in good company. :)
Marking Time on August 28, 2008 at 5:28 PM
Palin or Thompson for the surprise pick.
Meet The Press is crap since Russert’s passing.
McCain’s beef with NBC, I think, will not make him let his VP choice go there.
I think he will have his VP on Fox News Sunday.
jencab on August 28, 2008 at 5:29 PM
Republican reactions if candidate X is announced as McCain’s VP:
Lieberman: “HELL NO! YOU MORON!”
Romney: “Sigh. Okay, whatever.”
Jindal: “He’s pretty green, but that might work.”
Palin: “Wow, a woman?!”
Powell: “You’re trying too hard.”
Pawlenty: “Who?”
Fred!: “WOO!”
Beo on August 28, 2008 at 5:29 PM
Email I just got from McCain campaign
William Amos on August 28, 2008 at 5:29 PM
Yes!
dmarie on August 28, 2008 at 5:31 PM
Romney?
upinak on August 28, 2008 at 5:31 PM
If it’s Romney, I’m voting third party.
Sakaki on August 28, 2008 at 5:31 PM
Like “The man” said, “It’s all relative”.
Imagine that your boss floated the rumor that, say because of a downturn in business, all employees would have to get a 25% pay cut.
Then, doing what he planed all along, announced a 10% pay cut.
You might not fall for it, but many would and think it was almost like they had gotten a raise.
MB4 on August 28, 2008 at 5:31 PM
BTW that is right after the convention ends
William Amos on August 28, 2008 at 5:32 PM
Romney has spiked again on Intrade…after dropping a bit earlier today.
dmarie on August 28, 2008 at 5:32 PM
That was informative.
The Race Card on August 28, 2008 at 5:32 PM
Its got to kill Newt he is so disliked, otherwise he’d be an ideal VP pick or win the primary
jp on August 28, 2008 at 5:32 PM
I notice that it doesn’t say, “John McCain, Cindy McCain, Mitt Romney, and the Vice Presidential Nominee.”
Marking Time on August 28, 2008 at 5:32 PM
Uh-oh, must be Lieberman, otherwise they wouldn’t felt to add the word “please” for the second one… Doom doom doom…
CK MacLeod on August 28, 2008 at 5:32 PM
If it is Romney, then I hope McCain loses.
Sakaki on August 28, 2008 at 5:33 PM
A paragon of the obvious you are.
The Race Card on August 28, 2008 at 5:33 PM
Meet the Press has more viewers. Pawlenty is a unknown name, a place like Meet the Press is a great place to introduce a VP selection to the general audience. They are also giving him a lot of air time. Why would they give him so much air time to a relative political unknown unless he was the pick?
terryannonline on August 28, 2008 at 5:34 PM
I have the greatest respect for Newt, but his ship has sailed, and it’s not coming back.
Marking Time on August 28, 2008 at 5:34 PM
No matter who the pick is, some are sure to be disappointed. There doesn’t seem to be a consensus here…
dmarie on August 28, 2008 at 5:34 PM
If it was Reagan, instead of RINO/CINO McCain would anyone really care much whom he picked?
MB4 on August 28, 2008 at 5:37 PM
Im not sure everyone knew that. but thanks for the comment
William Amos on August 28, 2008 at 5:37 PM
Uh-oh, McCain himself is going to be Fox News Sunday with Chris Wallace. That must mean that he’s picking himself as VP – and we all thought Obama was the one most likely to try that out!
CK MacLeod on August 28, 2008 at 5:38 PM
Sorry, but Huck was just to much for 90% of conservatives to take. Plus, Romney came in second in the primaries (because you can’t count the states where Huck ran just to thumb his nose).
Vashta.Nerada on August 28, 2008 at 5:38 PM
McCain will win no meter who he picks.
Obama is imploding.
Borislav on August 28, 2008 at 5:39 PM
terryann,
if you look at the sched for MTP, Pawlenty’s just one of several guests.
CK MacLeod on August 28, 2008 at 5:39 PM
He can pick Snoopy for all I care.
Obama must lose.
Ronnie on August 28, 2008 at 5:40 PM
I remember watching television during the 1988 GOP Convention. Reagan was leaving at the airport as George Bush was arriving. At that point Bush told Reagan who his nominee was. You could see the look of puzzled surprise on Reagan’s face as he asked incredulously, “Who?!?”
It was a real LOL moment.
Let’s hope McCain doesn’t pull a H.W. on us.
Marking Time on August 28, 2008 at 5:40 PM
Romeny’s out too
ConservativePartyNow on August 28, 2008 at 5:40 PM
Okay, we get it. You shouldn’t re-post the same comment, mildly paraphrased, for the sake of whining or creating drama. Seriously, stop.
Melchiz on August 28, 2008 at 5:41 PM
Vashta, I hate Huckabee. Huckabee is a liberal who wanted to tax my fast food. Huckabee needs to be placed in a burlap sack and beaten with reeds for being an insolent bastard.
I just don’t like Romney because he’s oily and disingenuous. And the fact that the media wants Romney picked because he’ll be a perfect pinata for the Obama campaign.
I’m alright with anyone else, including Lieberman.
Sakaki on August 28, 2008 at 5:41 PM
Did he say, “I’m not the guy?”
Ronnie on August 28, 2008 at 5:41 PM
I think we are down to either Cantor, Palin, or a wild card. KLo said she thought it might be Forbes
ConservativePartyNow on August 28, 2008 at 5:42 PM
McCain’s camp seems pretty good at keeping a secret.
skree on August 28, 2008 at 5:43 PM
Ut oh, another
hallblog monitor.MB4 on August 28, 2008 at 5:43 PM
Haha, indeed. He could be pulling a Biden (ugh) for all we know. I will not be convinced until the words come out of McCain’s mouth on live television.
Melchiz on August 28, 2008 at 5:43 PM
hmmm
Romney, who had played the GOP attack-dog role earlier in the week at the Democratic convention, left his beachfront San Diego home Thursday morning with an overnight bag. His son, Matt, said Romney was headed to an unspecified location in the state. Asked about being vice president, the elder Romney said: “I don’t have anything for you right now.”
Ridge was at his suburban Washington, D.C., home. Asked by an AP photographer as he took out the trash if he had any travel plans for the day, Ridge smiled and said he didn’t.
William Amos on August 28, 2008 at 5:44 PM
Melchiz, Allow me to take this moment to quote Red Forman, and to shove my foot in your ass.
I will repeat if I so choose, that being said, I’m glad that some page has come out and stated that Mitt no longer understands himself to be in competition for the job.
It means McCain’s got my vote again.
Sakaki on August 28, 2008 at 5:44 PM
Mark Steyn said that whoever John McCain picks, we’re bound to be disappointed, because it’s John McCain doing the picking. I think he was right on the money there.
Here’s hoping it’s Palin, Pawlenty or Cantor and not Romney – criminy what a disappointment that would be.
zmrzlina on August 28, 2008 at 5:47 PM
ignore them… trolls are a foot. It is that time of day.
upinak on August 28, 2008 at 5:48 PM
He has to talk his choice over with his wife?
It’s a woman, then!
DngrMse on August 28, 2008 at 5:50 PM
Hey, I just like quoting Red Forman. That, and citing old songs that barely mean much. That being said, here’s an entertaining link to put some levity into the thread.
Boing.
Sakaki on August 28, 2008 at 5:51 PM
Time Magazine
Im still betting Cantor
William Amos on August 28, 2008 at 5:51 PM
Oh sorry, I was convinced that trolling was re-posting the same whine and cheese with bold and italics to annoy people and create drama.
Calling people out for that is a blog faux pas? My bad.
Melchiz on August 28, 2008 at 5:52 PM
They’re at least good at generating a lot of background noise to provide cover for the real nominee. If only the CIA were that good at it.
Beo on August 28, 2008 at 5:54 PM
If they really thought it was important to keep a secret, they could easily hire some guys to put on bulked-up suits, dark glass, and earpieces to pretend they were Secret Service visiting Pawlomniebermanin’s house.
CK MacLeod on August 28, 2008 at 5:58 PM
This guy has to be out. He’s too much of a blank face to the majority of the country, and this late date isn’t enough time to introduce him.
.
As people will see, Biden brings nothing to “The One”. The more he opens his mouth, the more people will realize that he’s held the chair of the foreign relations committee by default. It’s not because he’s an expert.
.
Romney has to be the logical pick for many different reasons, but none so important that he can brings economics help to an already stocked ticket on foreign relations. Like him or not, he’s a successful businessman who will complete the full ticket.
.
Game Over!
stacman on August 28, 2008 at 5:58 PM
Pawlenty on Meet the Press on Sunday!
*
*
*
*
TO ANNOUNCE HUCK as VP !!!!
marklmail on August 28, 2008 at 5:59 PM
I’m not so sure that Pawlenty being on Meet the Press has any real meaning other than Pawlenty is a real hot interview at the moment. If he is the pick, it is a scoop. If he isn’t the pick, they can get the reactions from the also-ran. It is a win-win for them.
Marking Time on August 28, 2008 at 6:07 PM
I hope now that it is Pawlenty. I heard that entire news conference today and he was awesome. He has a stiletto rather than a hammer, but he is a killer just the same. He did the best job I’ve heard yet demolishing Obama, but more in sadness than in anger. He had a clearly hostile press corps asking incredibly loaded questions, and handled them with aplomb. He gave a wonderfully smooth answer to a question about why Republicans are being so snarky about the Greek Temple and “what are you implying.” He basically said, I’m not implying anything, I’m saying flat out that they can put together all the glitzy spectacles they want, but when the crowd gors home there’s nothing there of suibstance. He also needled Obama several times about needing a TelePrompTer and basically sucking when he doesn’t have one.
I think this is our guy. He doesn’t have a lot of money, he has waaaaay more experience than Obama, and can deliver the bombs with a smile on his face. Much classier and even tempered than Joe Biden, without being wimpy or shy at all. He’s got that “Minnesota Nice” thing to a T, which Middle America will find extremely appealing, especially in comparison to a snarling Joe Biden and a sneering Barack Obama.
rockmom on August 28, 2008 at 6:12 PM
Touché Turtle.
The Race Card on August 28, 2008 at 6:12 PM
You sold me, rockmom! Note: There’s zero reason for him not to be perfectly acceptable to the so cons. There’s obviously no reason to call him a pander to identity politics pander. And the main argument against him – he supposedly lacks pizzaz – fits perfectly with the anti-celebrity theme.
2nd main defect: Funny name. Although in the ad biz, one theory is that long slightly funny names are actually more noticeable and memorable than short simple ones.
Dang – at this point I’m ready to be disappointed if it’s someone else…
CK MacLeod on August 28, 2008 at 6:22 PM
And being a complete AZZ isn’t going to get you anywhere in here either.
upinak on August 28, 2008 at 6:26 PM
More on Pawlenty – he was a personal hero to me earlier this year when he vetoed a horrible left-wing housing bill written largely by ACORN, that would have arbitrarily stopped all foreclosures for a year and probably sent every lender right out of the state. He was under tremendous pressure to sign it but he wouldn’t. If he’s the VP nominee look for Democrats to try to spin this against him, saying he doesn’t care about thousands of families in Minnesota losing their homes. It’s a crock. They don’t have much else to throw at him. My former employer is HQed in Minneapolis and everyone there loves the guy.
rockmom on August 28, 2008 at 6:27 PM
The rest of guests are panelists, which they can spend 10 to 15 minutes on. The bulk of time seems to be devoted to Pawlenty look at the Meet the Press home page. Again why would they highlight a relative unknown???
terryannonline on August 28, 2008 at 6:31 PM
terryann
I don’t think it makes a big dif either way – reading the tea leaves of interview subjects, travel schedules, convention line-ups, etc., is fruitless because all are subject to easy revision. If Mav sez he’s my guy, then whatever has to re-arranged will be re-arranged. As for MTP in particular, T-Paw has made the rounds on the morning shows before. Not sure if he’s ever done MTP solo, but, if anybody did consider it a dead giveaway, they wouldn’t have given it away.
CK MacLeod on August 28, 2008 at 6:37 PM
Maybe I am reading too much into it but I find it fishy why they are devoting so much time to him.
We are talking about NBC here, the boss of Olbermann and Matthews.
terryannonline on August 28, 2008 at 6:41 PM
Got word from one of my boys at Hamilton County GOP: Romney and Lieberman are both OUT. Getting second and third sources currently.
Sakaki on August 28, 2008 at 6:43 PM
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