Pawlenty launches TV ad in Iowa

Tim Pawlenty’s presidential campaign has launched a new television ad in Iowa contrasting the former governor’s Minnesota record with his goals for the nation.

In a fundraising pitch launched in conjunction with the new ad, Pawlenty flatly states in the subject line of the message that “it all starts in Iowa.”

… For three years, Americans have ad a President who has made things worse and has no economic plan, only a campaign plan. I believe this race will come down to who has produced real results and has a real plan, not empty rhetoric.

But we need your help to make sure every person has a chance to see this ad and learn about my record.

Please join me today and donate $35, $75 or $100 to help us run this ad and reach as many Iowans as possible.

Donate Today!

For far too long we have been burdening our children with piles of debt.

For far too long we have seen our court system handed over to activist judges.

And for far too long we have had leaders that will not make the hard decisions.

The Ames Straw Poll in Iowa is in less than 8 weeks and we need your help. America is exceptional and together we will get our country back on track but I need you to join our team now.

Mary and I are excited to be in Iowa in the coming weeks. We are committed to this fight and look forward to seeing you on the campaign trail.

Included in the electronic missive is a link to IowaStrawPoll2011.com, a Pawlenty site specifically focusing on the Iowa GOP’s August Ames Straw Poll state fundraiser.

The ad, “Results Not Rhetoric,” highlights reduced Minnesota spending, state health care reforms and battles with labor unions.

“We’ve had three years of empty talk and rhetoric that is not working and some candidates seem hungry to offer a lot more,” said Ann Marie Hauser, communications director for Pawlenty for President. “But the question voters will ultimately ask is, “Who has actually done it?’ When they do, they will find Governor Pawlenty’s results — not rhetoric — for American families are second to no other candidate in this race.”

However, not everyone viewing the Pawlenty ad offering is convinced. Sue Dvorsky, chairwoman of the Iowa Democratic Party, released a statement chiding Pawlenty for “threatening” to accomplish the same results nationally that he achieved in neighboring Minnesota.

“In his ad running in Iowa, Tim Pawlenty says ‘if I can do it in Minnesota, we can do it in Washington.’ To that, we here in Iowa say please don’t,” said Dvorsky. “While Tim Pawlenty was governor, 90 percent of residents saw their property taxes go up, and he still managed to leave the state with the largest deficit in Minnesota history. He didn’t ‘cut spending in real terms’ but instead ‘balanced’ the budget with stop gaps and gimmicks which left his predecessor with a $6.2 billion deficit.

“Now he is proposing an economic plan that doubles down on all the bad economic policies that got us into the economic mess we’re in today. Governor Pawlenty is right, if he can do it in Minnesota, he can do it in Washington — we just hope he doesn’t get the chance.”

Watch the new ad: