Tim Pawlenty 2012 presidential campaign

The 2012 presidential campaign of Tim Pawlenty, the 39th Governor of Minnesota began shortly after the 2010 midterm elections. He was seeking the 2012 Republican Party nomination for President of the United States.

Tim Pawlenty for President 2012
CampaignU.S. presidential election, 2012
CandidateTim Pawlenty
39th Governor of Minnesota
(2003–2011)
AffiliationRepublican Party
StatusWithdrew, August 14, 2011[1]
HeadquartersSt. Paul, Minnesota
Key peopleNick Ayers (Campaign manager)
ReceiptsUS$5,965,502 (2012-3-31)
Website
Pawlenty 2012

On March 21, 2011 Pawlenty announced on Facebook that he had filed the organization of an exploratory committee with the Federal Elections Commission. He formally declared his candidacy in Iowa on May 23, 2011.[2] The day after finishing third place in the August 13, 2011 Ames Straw Poll,[3] Pawlenty ended his presidential campaign.[1]

Background

In February 2005, ABC News identified him as a potential candidate for president.[4] Pawlenty decided not to seek a third term as governor, and so was not a candidate in the November 2010 gubernatorial election. Later, he regretted the decision, which was made in part due to wanting to avoid having to fight with the Democratic-controlled legislature, because Democrats lost control of the legislature in the same election.[5]

In September 2008, MinnPost mentioned that Pawlenty was a potential candidate in the 2012 presidential election.[6] In October 2009, a CNN article suggested that Pawlenty was contemplating a 2012 White House bid.[7] Among those advising him in preparation for a potential presidential run is lobbyist and former Congressman Vin Weber.[8]

In late 2009, Pawlenty began taking steps that many saw as leading to a 2012 presidential bid.[9] He visited Iowa in November 2009 and April 2010, making political speeches.[10] In January 2011, the New York Times reported that "Few Americans, in fact, even know his name."[11] In January 2011, Pawlenty told the College Republicans group at The George Washington University "If I decide to run it would be for president, not vice president."[12][13]

Staff

Sonny Perdue, a former governor of Georgia who was national campaign co-chairman for Newt Gingrich, defected to Pawlenty's campaign in June 2011, when at least 16 of Gingrich's staff quit.[14] Elise Stefanik served as his policy director.

Book tour and political positions
Pawlenty at a book signing in February 2011 in Phoenix, Arizona.

Pawlenty went on tour for his book Courage to Stand, and as of January 18, his book had reached #1,979 on Amazon.com's list of bestsellers.[15] Pawlenty calls himself a social conservative.[16] In his extended interview with Jon Stewart on The Daily Show, he said he thinks United States Social Security and Medicare need to be cut to balance the federal budget.[17]

Pawlenty believes that state governments should outlaw abortion, except for cases of rape, incest, and to save a woman's life. He thinks the United States Supreme Court decided Roe v. Wade wrongly, abortion being a state, not a federal, matter. He opposes same-sex marriage and civil unions. He would like to reinstate "Don't ask, don't tell" should he become president. Answering a question from talk radio host Bryan Fischer, he replied, "... I have been a public supporter of maintaining Don't Ask, Don't Tell and I would support reinstating it as well".[16]

In December 2010, Pawlenty was one of three U.S. governors who publicly declared solidarity with Christian right group Family Research Council.[18]

Pawlenty's tour passed through Minneapolis, San Francisco and Dallas, ending in Iowa in January where the Iowa Caucuses are scheduled for February 6, 2012. "That will come up fast," he said, "if I do run."

In a December 2010 column in The Wall Street Journal, Pawlenty argued in favor of the historical benefits of "private sector" labor unions and strongly against "public sector" labor unions, whose collective bargaining rights he would like to see curbed: "The rise of the labor movement in the early 20th century was a triumph for America's working class. In an era of deep economic anxiety, unions stood up for hard-working but vulnerable families, protecting them from physical and economic exploitation." He also criticized modern unions: "The moral case for unions—protecting working families from exploitation—does not apply to public employment... Unionized public employees are making more money, receiving more generous benefits, and enjoying greater job security than the working families forced to pay for it with ever-higher taxes, deficits and debt."[19]

Campaign developments

Announcement
Pawlenty formally launched his official campaign on May 23 in Iowa

On March 21, 2011, Pawlenty announced, via Facebook, that he had formed an exploratory committee in preparation for a potential run for the 2012 Republican presidential nomination.[20][21] On April 12, 2011, Pawlenty said clearly on CNN's Piers Morgan Tonight that he was "running for president" and not for vice president, adding that a formal announcement would be given in several weeks.[22] On Twitter, his spokesman said CNN took his comments out of context.[23]

On May 23, 2011, Pawlenty launched his candidacy for president in a speech in Iowa stating: "I'm going to try something a little unusual in politics. I'm just going to tell the truth."[24][25] A YouTube video[26] appeared a day before.[27] The Wall Street Journal wrote of his candidacy, and the luck he experienced in the GOP's field, that Pawlenty has a "golden chance to become the chief rival to... Mitt Romney".[28]

Rivalry with Michele Bachmann

Before fellow Minnesota politician Michele Bachmann entered the race in mid-2011, Pawlenty said, "I have a lot of respect for Michele Bachmann … Whether she runs or not, it's gonna be a big field. There's gonna be five, six, seven, eight people running … Whoever wants to run can run. The more, the merrier."[15] In the weeks leading up to the Ames Straw Poll hosted by the Iowa GOP, however, Pawlenty expressed frustration with the perception that Representative Bachmann was the outsider in Minnesota politics and that he was the establishment.[29] In a debate hosted by Fox News Channel and the Washington Examiner shortly before the poll Pawlenty challenged Bachmann, claiming that "in Congress, [Bachmann's] record of accomplishment and results is nonexistent."[30]

Although Pawlenty had a top three result in the Ames poll on August 13 (after Bachmann and Ron Paul) and stated that "[w]e made progress in moving from the back of the pack into a competitive position for the caucuses",[31] some analysts were of the view that with him receiving less than half of Bachmann's vote, Pawlenty had failed to reassure his prospective supporters and donors that his campaign was not stalled.[32][33]

Withdrawal
Pawlenty speaking at the Ames Straw Poll, the day before withdrawing from the race.

Following his poor showing in the Ames Straw Poll, where he received only 13.57% of the votes cast,[3] behind second-place Ron Paul and winner Michele Bachmann, Pawlenty announced on ABC News's This Week he was ending his campaign for the Republican nomination:[1]

It [his finish in the straw poll] was disappointing. But let me first say, Jake, this has been an incredible process. It's been a great honor for Mary and me and our team to convey the message of trying to get this country back on track -- and I think it is off-track -- but bringing my record forward as a two-term governor of a blue state, doing things like getting government spending under control, doing health care reform the right way, and much more. But obviously that message didn't get the kind of traction or lift that we needed and hoped for coming into and out of the Ames straw poll. We needed to get some lift to continue on and to have a pathway forward. That didn't happen. So I'm announcing this morning on your show that I'm going to be ending my campaign for president, but I'm very, very grateful for the people of Iowa, the people of this country, who I had a chance to make my case to, and for my supporters and staff and friends who've been so loyal and helpful. I really appreciate all of them. I wish it would have been different. But, obviously, the pathway forward for me doesn't really exist. And so we're going to end the campaign.[34]

References
  1. "Ex-Minn. Gov. Tim Pawlenty ends White House bid". The Huffington Post. Associated Press. August 14, 2011. Retrieved August 14, 2011.
  2. "Pawlenty headed to Iowa to formally declare candidacy". CNN.
  3. Reinhard, Beth (August 13, 2011). "Bachmann Boom; TPaw Bust?". National Journal. Archived from the original on October 25, 2011. Retrieved August 14, 2011.
  4. Ambinder, Marc (February 9, 2005). "Conservatives Say Pawlenty Is Potential Presidential Candidate". ABC News. Retrieved April 3, 2011.
  5. http://www.greensboro-nc.com/news/article/pawlentys-regret-no-third-term
  6. What's Next for Tim Pawlenty? Minnesota Post.
  7. "Pawlenty rolls out new health care proposals". CNN. Retrieved May 25, 2010.
  8. Foster, Daniel (January 27, 2011). "Pence Out, Republican Presidential Field Open". National Review.
  9. Jonathan Martin (October 1, 2009). "Pawlenty preps 2012 campaign team". Politico. Retrieved 3 Jun 2010.
  10. "Pawlenty in Iowa: Republican party must unite to take power from Democrats | Des Moines Register Staff Blogs". Blogs.desmoinesregister.com. October 27, 2010. Archived from the original on July 9, 2011. Retrieved October 31, 2010.
  11. Peters, Jeremy (January 29, 2011). "Political Blogs Are Ready to Flood Campaign Trail". The New York Times.
  12. Kendra Marr (January 14, 2011). "Pawlenty: No VP thoughts this time". Politico. Retrieved January 14, 2011.
  13. Davenport, Reid (January 18, 2011). "Tim Pawlenty: If I run, it will be for the presidency". The GW Hatchet. The George Washington University. Archived from the original on July 10, 2012.
  14. Tumulty, Karen and Chris Cillizza (June 9, 2011). "High command quits Gingrich campaign". The Washington Post. Retrieved June 9, 2011.
  15. Weiner, Jay (January 18, 2011). "In campaign-like appearance, Pawlenty shows off 'Courage to Stand' ... and to sit, signing books". MinnPost. Retrieved January 18, 2011.
  16. Bryan Fischer and Tim Pawlenty. AFA's Bryan Fischer Interviews Tim Pawlenty. YouTube (Google). Retrieved January 17, 2011.
  17. Exclusive - Tim Pawlenty Extended Interview (Episode #16007). The Daily Show (Comedy Partners). January 12, 2010. Retrieved January 17, 2011.
  18. Duffy, J.P. (December 15, 2010). "FRC, Members of Congress, Governors, and Conservative Leaders Release Open Letter Calling for Civil Debate, End to Character Assassination". Retrieved January 30, 2011.
  19. Pawlenty, Tim (December 13, 2010). "Government Unions vs. Taxpayers". The Wall Street Journal.
  20. Marr, Kendra (March 21, 2011). "Tim Pawlenty forms 2012 presidential exploratory committee". Politico. Retrieved March 21, 2011.
  21. Camia, Catalina (March 21, 2011). "Pawlenty launches committee to explore White House bid". USA Today. Retrieved March 21, 2011.
  22. Pawlenty, Tim (April 12, 2011). CNN Official Interview: Tim Pawlenty 'I'm running for President'. CNN via YouTube (Google). Archived from the original on May 29, 2015. and in context Tim Pawlenty Tells Piers Morgan: "I'm Running For President". CNN via PoliticsNewsNews via YouTube (Google). Retrieved April 15, 2011.
  23. "@CNN report of @TimPawlenty on @piersmorgan is out of context. Obviously, Pawlenty has exploratory committee to run for President. Not VP," wrote Alex Conant, his spokesman, in Wallbank, Derek (April 12, 2011). "Tim Pawlenty accidentally confirms the obvious, then walks it back". MinnPost. Retrieved April 15, 2011.
  24. "Real change is about telling hard truths". USA Today. May 23, 2011.
  25. Pawlenty 'betting it all on Iowa' in presidential run. KARE-TV. Multimedia KARE. May 23, 2011. Archived from the original on September 10, 2012. Retrieved May 23, 2011.
  26. Tim Pawlenty - A Time for Truth (Preview of Monday's Announcement). YouTube (Google). May 22, 2011. Retrieved May 22, 2011.
  27. Shear, Michael (May 22, 2011). "Pawlenty Announces Candidacy a Day Early". The New York Times. Retrieved May 22, 2011.
  28. Seib, Gerald F. (May 23, 2011). "Is America Ready for President TPaw?". The Wall Street Journal. Dow Jones. Retrieved May 23, 2011.
  29. Sharpiro, Walter. "The Tragedy of Tim Pawlenty: He Did Everything Right. And That's The Problem". The New Republic. Retrieved 27 July 2011.
  30. Sean Hannity Bachmann's Post-Debate Reaction: Pawlenty Attacks Needed to Be Addressed Fox News Channel 11 August 2011
  31. Bachmann Wins Iowa Straw Poll; Pawlenty Distant Third New York Times 13 August 2011
  32. Peter Hamby, Questions for Pawlenty after straw poll finish CNN blogs, 13 August 2011
  33. Ramesh Ponnuru, Bachmann Wins Iowa, For Now Bloomberg News 14 August 2011
  34. 'This Week' Transcript: Tim Pawlenty and Michele Bachmann 8/14/2011
  35. http://www.timpawlenty.com/articles/congressman-joe-wilson-endorses-tim-pawlenty-for-president
  36. http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=44265
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