http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080806/ap_on_el_pr/pawlenty_obama GOP's Pawlenty praises Obama's positive tone By FREDERIC J. FROMMER – 5 hours ago ARLINGTON, Va. (AP) — Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, often mentioned as a possible running mate for Republican presidential candidate John McCain, said Wednesday GOP candidates would do well to adopt a positive tone like that of McCain's Democratic rival Barack Obama. "Say what you will about Barack Obama," the Minnesota Republican told a conservative group, "people gravitate when you have something positive to say." He added that McCain has been positive as well. "People want to follow hopeful, optimistic, civil, decent leaders," Pawlenty said in a speech to GOPAC, which helps recruit Republican candidates. "They don't want to follow some negative, scornful person." Ronald Reagan still offers important lessons for today's Republican Party, Pawlenty said, because the former president was civil, optimistic, pragmatic and a good communicator. "He actually had some ideas," Pawlenty said, adding that the Republican idea factory has seemed "a little stagnant in recent years." Pawlenty, 47, said he came of age during President Reagan's tenure in the 1980s, but acknowledged the Republican icon is ancient history to young people. "If you're under 40, that was a long time ago, man," he said to laughter. The party needs to update its message to appeal to voters who want new ideas and government results and to counter the perception that Republicans are "not for the working person," Pawlenty said. He advocated policies like better training and performance pay for teachers, online college education opportunities, and reworking health insurance to reward providers that show good results and save money. Pawlenty shied away from talking about joining McCain on the ticket.
It must have been the name Tim that fooled you. Well, either that or you didn't get that far (3 words) into the article.
For anybody outside of MN I wouldn't put much trust in Tim Pawlenty. The guy comes off as nice, friendly and positive but that's not the way he governs. During his first term he pretty much took the national Republican route of governing through divisiveness and its only in the last two years when Democrats have taken over the MN legislature has he been forced to compromise. Also if not for a last minute meltdown by his opponent in the last election Mike Hatch, Pawlenty would've been defeated. As is he only barely squeaked by in an election with a prominent former Democrat running on the Independence party ticket.
Good question - everything I seem to hear is focused entirely on Pawlenty. One interesting quirk about the campaign comes from ad spending. Obama has put $5 MM into Florida - while McCain has put $0. I expect FL to McCain, but I can't imagine he's in position to take that for granted. I wonder if McCain has already settled on Crist, which may very be enough to lock up the state given his popularity.
He's been seen with Crist quite a bit. I wouldn't be surprised at his selection as the VP by McCain. Also, in my opinion, Obama has a shot at taking Florida. McCain may think the same thing. Guess we'll see! Impeach Bush/Cheney.
I agree - I think it's at least competitive enough that McCain can't afford to ignore it. Who knows - but it seems we may not know the VPs for a while. The conventional wisdom was that Obama would announce before the Olympics, but now the campaign is saying no announcement is likely before Obama returns from his vacation that he's taking next week. That means either during the Olympics or during the convention. Kind of weird and I'm not sure the strategy there. And most accounts have McCain waiting until after Obama. So it looks like we may be waiting a while. I still think Caroline Kennedy would be a ridiculously cool pick. Achilleus - why do you think no to Crist?
Oh! I was thinking of that other republican VP possibility that agrees with Obama. There are so many of them. my bad
That's right! It was this cutie Alaska Gov. And Longshot McCain VP Praises Obama's Energy Plan The Obama campaign is trotting out a gubernatorial endorsement for his energy policy today... from Republican Alaska Governor and long-shot VP candidate Sarah Palin. An aide to the presumptive Democratic nominee sent over a link to a Palin press release Tuesday morning in which the governor praised Obama for, among other things, calling for the completion of the Alaska natural gas pipeline and proposing $1,000 rebates for families struggling with energy costs. "We in Alaska feel that crunch and are taking steps to address it right here at home," Palin's press release read. "This is a tool that must be on the table to buy us time until our long-term energy plans can be put into place. We have already enjoyed the support of Alaska Senator Ted Stevens, and it is gratifying to see Senator Obama get on board."
