Pawlenty’s presidential ambitions get the Pat Robertson treatment

As part of it’s “Elephant in the Room” series, Pat Robertson’s Christian Broadcasting Network did a half-hour long segment on Gov. Tim Pawlenty and his presidential aspirations. CBN’s David Brody sat down with Pawlenty and wife Mary as well the Washington Post’s Chris Cillizza and Politico’s Jonathan Martin. Among the topics were Pawlenty’s connection to the evangelical community and his lack of name recognition.

Pawlenty said he’s running on a platform of repealing health care reform: “I think it’s one of the worst piece of legislation in the history of the country.”

He also talked about his faith. “If the nation turns its back on God or tries to push him out of the equation, we are going be a much poorer nation for it,” he said. “We believe in Jesus Christ. We believe what Jesus taught — not only believe in but try our very best to follow. Jesus is who he says he is, and it’s both simple but also profound.”

The Pawlentys were asked about their church whose pastor is also the president of the National Association of Evangelicals and whether that connection could help with his presidential bid.

“I can’t imagine that Leith Anderson or I would think that that’s an issue,” Mary Pawlenty said. “Our faith obviously is a part of who we are, and to the extent individuals as they hear that find they are interested learning more about who my husband is. The notion that there’s somehow access, that doesn’t even compute in my brain that way.”

Gov. Pawlenty responded, “Pastor Anderson is not someone who would or should use that for political purposes, and he’s a wonderful person and a dear leader and minster. Neither he nor that group is some sort of plug-and-play political operation. He’s in the business of saving souls. He’s not in the business of political campaigns.

CBN also polled people on the streets of Washington, D.C., to see if they recognized Pawlenty. None of the ten people on the street easily recognized Pawlenty — only one did after incorrectly guessing that he was Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner.

Minnesota Republican strategist Vin Weber made the case for Pawlenty as well saying he’s the only conservative governor in Minnesota for the last 50 years.

The full half-hour interview can be viewed below: