For those who believe that Pawlenty isn’t conservative enough to be McCain’s runningmate, please keep in mind that Pawlenty is as solidly conservative on right-to-life, RKBA and immigration as they come, and that he was able to be reelected in Minnesota despite the state’s Democrat lean and the horrible political environment for Republicans in 2006. Pawlenty broke his pledge not to raise taxes when he agreed to a higher “health-assessment fee” on cigarettes (which was a tax, regardless of what they called it), and has unfortunately fallen for the global warming hype, but other than that is a pretty solid conservative.
I believe that John McCain will be able to carry Minnesota (48% for President Bush in 2004) and Wisconsin (49% for Bush) with Tim Pawlenty on the ticket, and that Pawlenty’s blue-collar background will help McCain carry Michigan, Ohio and Pennsylvania to ensure a large Electoral College majority.
That being said, I’d rather have Mark Sanford as McCain’s runningmate if we’re running against Obama.