VP or not VP: Pawlenty knocked from the top spot by Romney

By Paul Demko
Friday, July 11, 2008 at 1:09 pm

Gov. Tim Pawlenty is in a veepstakes rut. After weeks where he looked like the consensus top contender to join the ticket with John McCain — and despite shamelessly attempting to further ingratiate himself by making constant appearances at fundraisers and on talk shows across the country — T-Paw has lost his VP sheen. Talking Points Memo declared him too boring for prime time. The anti-tax zealots shivved him in the back. And now the Washington Post’s Chris Cillizza, who’s been on the Pawlenty blue-collar bandwagon (son of a truck driver!) for months, has downgraded him to the No. 2 spot in the GOP veepstakes. Here’s Cillizza’s take:

2. Tim Pawlenty: For the first time since we unveiled the vice presidential Line, T-Paw falls from the top spot. The buzz factor around Pawlenty has quieted quite a bit over the last month as the chattering class moves on to a new flavor of the month. Although Pawlenty isn’t ranked number one today, it’s hard to imagine that he is not one of the final three (or four) people that McCain considers. Pawlenty’s compelling personal story (the son of a truck driver), appeal in a potential swing state and close relationship with McCain are all powerful factors in his favor. (Previous ranking: 1)

Comments

4 Comments

krogy
Comment posted July 12, 2008 @ 4:19 pm

Congressional Insiders Poll, http://www.nationaljournal.com/njmagazine/ip_20080712_8276.php?related=true&story1=null&story2=null&story3=null

Republicans (36 votes)

Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney 25 percent

Rep. Eric Cantor 14 percent

Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal 11 percent

An outsider 8 percent

Former OMB Director Rob Portman 6 percent

Former Homeland Security Secretary

Tom Ridge 6 percent

Pawlenty does not even make the top six.

wabbit
Comment posted July 11, 2008 @ 2:12 pm

Sorry, but I never thought Pawlenty was a good choice because he just doesn’t deliver any constituencies on his own. This is NOT a swing state, regardless of how many times people say it is, given history and all the recent polls – Pawlenty can’tt even deliver 10 EV from us. He doesn’t make nice with evangelicals or the Libertarian/Barr wing of the party who McCain needs to reach out to.

He does have a suburban touch and is very purdy, which might be good for something in a media age. But he’s at best an unconventional veep choice if you go that route, and I really don’t see McCain as being that radical – especially given the lukewarm reception he’s getting with key elements of the Republican coalition. He’s just got more important stuff to do.

If you want a surprise candidate, Elizabeth Dole, Susan Collins, or Colin Powell would all be far more interesting than Pawlenty. None of them had a bridge fall down on their watch (except maybe Powell).

wabbit
Comment posted July 11, 2008 @ 9:12 am

Sorry, but I never thought Pawlenty was a good choice because he just doesn't deliver any constituencies on his own. This is NOT a swing state, regardless of how many times people say it is, given history and all the recent polls – Pawlenty can'tt even deliver 10 EV from us. He doesn't make nice with evangelicals or the Libertarian/Barr wing of the party who McCain needs to reach out to.

He does have a suburban touch and is very purdy, which might be good for something in a media age. But he's at best an unconventional veep choice if you go that route, and I really don't see McCain as being that radical – especially given the lukewarm reception he's getting with key elements of the Republican coalition. He's just got more important stuff to do.

krogy
Comment posted July 12, 2008 @ 11:19 am

Congressional Insiders Poll, http://www.nationaljournal.com/njmagazine/ip_20…