The joint appearances put Mr. Pawlenty in an odd spot. He’s struggling to escape the large shadow cast by other White House hopefuls, but he’s got something to gain by being seen with or mentioned alongside the party’s established players.
Mr. Pawlenty says he’s not worried about being overshadowed.
“These are my friends. I know them well. We’ve served together as governors. We know each other from previous occasions, events and circumstances,” he said Thursday. “So I welcome them to Minnesota and enjoy seeing them in each case.”…
Political analysts and strategists say that snubbing the political visitors would draw negative attention for Mr. Pawlenty and that he needs all the exposure he can get – even if it means ceding the spotlight to a possible foe.
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