Pawlenty says calling Social Security unconstitutional will cost GOP

In a Politico posting that blended former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty’s campaign talking points with those of Mitt Romney, Pawlenty made the case that Romney has the best shot at beating Pres. Barack Obama in 2012.

Pawlenty argued he’s in a good position to judge Romney’s chance at the Oval Office because of his two statewide election wins in “blue state” Minnesota.

Pawlenty, who has officially backed Romney, warned that Pres. Barack Obama shouldn’t be underestimated, and said Republicans shouldn’t waste this opportunity by nominating a “vulnerable candidate.”

Pawlenty also took a veiled swipe at Texas Gov. Rick Perry.

“While Romney has long seen that Social Security has severe, long-term financial problems, he favors saving and protecting the program by fixing those problems,” Pawlenty wrote. “He has not denounced the program—as some have done—and called it unconstitutional. He has not proposed that Social Security be turned over to state governments.”

Pawlenty said those positions on Social Security are “untenable” and would “cost Republicans dearly in the election.”

The Romney campaign has recently targeted Perry on his Social Security stances, which use 10th Amendment rhetoric to appeal to the right-wing of the Republican Party. As the Washington Post notes, it’s not clear that those criticisms have hurt Perry in the polls yet.