by Mark Silva
It just may be that Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty's name has been mentioned so often as a possible running mate for Sen. John McCain that it's not happening.
But, then, why is Pawlenty out there in the try-outs?
Like the comment that Pawlenty made about Democrat Barack Obama at an appearance in Ames, Iowa, with the Minnesotan suggesting that voting for the Illinoisan for president "is the political equivalent of bungee jumping."
That's the voting-for-Obama-is-too-risky argument made with a certain flair for political imagery -- but you gotta know he didn't write that.
The governor on Saturday also cast quick doubt on Obama's suggestion that he might support offshore oil-drilling as part of a compromise on a comprehensive energy bill
""He's put so many contingencies around it that I wonder, in fact I question, whether he would do it at all," Pawlenty said after helping open a Republican campaign office in Ames. "It may be a way for him to gain favor during the election, and tube it later because all the contingencies weren't met."
Pawlenty wasn't talking about his own prospects as a potential McCain running mate, however. "I don't talk about the V.P. stuff anymore," Pawlenty said. "I just stopped talking about it because it became a distraction."
Sounds like a running mate try-out to us.
Remember that verb: Tube.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.







Comments
Like all of the other Republicans, he knows which way the wind is blowing and it is not in their favor. The Republicans have hoodwinked, bamboozled and deceived the American electorate for 8 years and they think they can attack, with their fear and smear machine, Senator Obama, with impunity !! Like the last 8 years, they are sadly mistaken. America knows all of their tricks, by now. The Republicans have left America nearly devastated and all they continue to do, is to try to continue the deception, continue the fear and smear campaign. That is not leadership, that is incompetence, that is criminal negligence and America has grown weary of such fraudulency !!
SUPPORT OUR TROOPS, BRING THEM HOME, ALIVE AND WHOLE. NOW.
Posted by: Don Fitzgerald, Chicago | August 3, 2008 9:53 AM
I do appreciate the posting of the polls, here, but I always question their validity. Validity is an issue especially now that there are record refusals to participate in the polling.
But relevance is another problem.
To me, the only poll that MIGHT matter is relevant voters.
Given McSame's Pre-Emptive WHINER strategy (I mean, at least wait til Obama lands a punch), I wonder what he'll do when there is a debate--and how that will play among likely voters.
Posted by: Golden "Hussein" Oldie | August 3, 2008 12:34 PM
Well, voting for McCain is like doing the same jump without the bungee cord.
Posted by: Cheryl Hussein | August 3, 2008 5:13 PM
In other words, Pawlenty thinks Obama will say anything if he thinks it will win votes when Pawlenty says, "He's put so many contingencies around it that I wonder, in fact I question, whether he would do it at all." And Pawlenty wants to be a running mate of someone he thinks is playing the public for a fool?
Posted by: Aaron | August 3, 2008 5:38 PM