A Pawlenty run for Vice President? There are positives.

This is the first in a two-part series looking at the positives and negatives of a vice presidential run by Gov. Tim Pawlenty. Joe Bodell will post a piece looking at the negatives this afternoon.

The thought of Lt. Gov. Carol Molnau taking over for our current governor is enough to make people instantly suspicious of the thought of Vice President Tim Pawlenty. But Pawlenty’s aspiration for higher office is hardly crazy. For John McCain, Pawlenty could serve as a valuable second man on the Republican ticket. And for Minnesota, having another vice president — or at least another vice presidential candidate — could bring positive attention to the state.

First off, Pawlenty makes some sense as the type of candidate McCain would pick. Nobody can argue against Pawlenty’s fiscal conservatism. He at least technically hasn’t approved a tax increase during his time in office. One can argue whether that’s the best policy for the state — I would argue it isn’t. But Pawlenty’s willingness to stand up to any tax increase, no matter how sensible, puts him in good stead with economic conservatives, a constituency that is still cool to McCain.

But it’s not just reflexive opposition to taxes that makes Pawlenty a good match for McCain. Pawlenty has executive experience, something McCain lacks. Geographicallyhe’s the governor of a purplish blue state, and while he may not be able to personally swing Minnesota, he’s located next-door to Wisconsin and Iowa, two other purple states.

And, let’s face it, Pawlenty is one of the few up-and-coming Republicans around. 2006 was a debacle for the GOP, but somehow Pawlenty managed to eke out a victory here. That he owes his victory as much to former Attorney General Mike Hatch’s temper as anything else is beside the point, as is the fact that he won but a plurality of the vote. Winning at all in 2006 was a major accomplishment for a Republican, and Pawlenty did just that.

For Minnesota a Pawlenty candidacy would have some benefit, too. Pawlenty would be the third person to seek the vice presidency from Minnesota in the last 44 years. The first two — Hubert Humphrey and Walter Mondale — won. A Pawlenty candidacy would once again draw attention to the state’s political scene, for more reasons than just a collapsing bridge.

And needless to say, if Pawlenty were elected vice president, he’d represent a friend to the state at the highest levels of government. And not just in the person of the president of the Senate. John McCain would be the oldest person ever elected to the presidency. There is more than a little speculation that McCain may serve only one term. By 2012 we could well be talking about a Pawlenty administration. And while the president has a responsibility to all 50 states, it’s doubtful that Pawlenty would ignore the one he came from.

All in all, a Pawlenty vice presidential run could be a positive for the state. Even if it leads to an incompetent fool like Carol Molnau in the governor’s mansion.