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Does Pawlenty have what it takes to win?
Washington Post ^ | 6/17/11 | Amy Gardner and and Philip Rucker

Posted on 06/17/2011 7:17:52 PM PDT by randita

Does Pawlenty have what it takes to win?

By Amy Gardner and and Philip Rucker, Friday, June 17, 7:57 PM

Former Minnesota governor Tim Pawlenty wanted to start a fight with the Republican presidential front-runner, and on a Sunday talk show, he did — injecting into the 2012 sweepstakes a new term, “ObamneyCare,” that portrayed Mitt Romney’s Massachusetts health-care overhaul and President Obama’s federal law as one and the same.

But on Monday, standing next to Romney at a presidential debate, Pawlenty declined to stick with the fight. A wave of criticism ensued, and by Thursday, Pawlenty revived the attack to show that he’s got what it takes to go up against the two men — Romney and Obama — he sees standing between him and the White House.

The flare-up between the front-runner and the man hoping to be his main rival encapsulated the vulnerabilities of both — and the uncertainty among Republicans that either is equipped to go toe-to-toe against Obama.

In a wide-open presidential nominating contest, the GOP is more united than ever that its nominee must be ready for battle with Obama on health care as well as the economy. Some are uncertain that Romney is that man, given his role enacting an individual mandate in Massachusetts that Obama has said was a model for the federal overhaul that Republicans deride as “Obamacare.”

But by the end of the week, his indecision over how to attack Romney had combined with his uneven performance on stage to revive the very question Pawlenty had sought to dispel in going after Romney in the first place: Does he have what it takes to win?

(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...


TOPICS: Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: mn; pawlenty; pawlenty2012; president
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1 posted on 06/17/2011 7:17:56 PM PDT by randita
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To: randita
I'm sorry but Pawlenty has a lot to prove.
2 posted on 06/17/2011 7:19:50 PM PDT by hinckley buzzard
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To: randita
Curious how the Democrat directed “News Media, like some Freepers, are so pathetically desperate to promote infighting amount the Republican Candidates.
3 posted on 06/17/2011 7:20:12 PM PDT by MNJohnnie (Giving politicians more tax money is like giving addicts free drugs to cure their addiction)
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To: randita

He needs more Moxie than he has shown.


4 posted on 06/17/2011 7:20:36 PM PDT by Anti-Bubba182
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To: randita

No as in RINO!


5 posted on 06/17/2011 7:26:30 PM PDT by A. Morgan ( I Stand with Sarah Palin)
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To: hinckley buzzard

For some reason he reminds me of Dr Bunsen Honeydew’s assistant, Beaker.


6 posted on 06/17/2011 7:27:26 PM PDT by cripplecreek (Remember the River Raisin! (look it up))
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To: cripplecreek

Any of the present GOP candidates and a number of potential candidates can whip BO’s backside. He is a one-term President, barring some unforseen and huge eventuality.


7 posted on 06/17/2011 7:30:32 PM PDT by Radtechtravel
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To: Radtechtravel
Any of the present GOP candidates and a number of potential candidates can whip BO’s backside. He is a one-term President, barring some unforseen and huge eventuality.

You'll get no argument from me.
8 posted on 06/17/2011 7:32:39 PM PDT by cripplecreek (Remember the River Raisin! (look it up))
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To: randita

No. He does not.


9 posted on 06/17/2011 7:37:37 PM PDT by cableguymn
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To: randita

I haven’t read the article and never will. When did we give the Washington Post and their politically correct writers the right to choose who and who will not be the Republican nominee?


10 posted on 06/17/2011 7:41:54 PM PDT by mort56
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To: hinckley buzzard

And you are taking your lead from the Washington Post


11 posted on 06/17/2011 7:43:25 PM PDT by mort56
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To: randita

If he is anything like Duncan Hunter and raises a total of $50.00 and then only spends $25.00 then I say no.

Hunter’s neighbors didn’t know he was running much less anyone else.


12 posted on 06/17/2011 7:46:53 PM PDT by Eaker (The problem with the internet, you're never sure of the accuracy of the quotes. Abraham Lincoln '65)
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To: randita

“Does Pawlenty have what it takes to win?”

Maybe not. He allowed himself to be bullied by the CNN guy and a conservative can’t win if he runs how the press wants him (or her) to run.


13 posted on 06/17/2011 7:48:01 PM PDT by MontaniSemperLiberi (Moutaineers are Always Free)
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To: randita

pfft! Even O’Bloviator knows T-Paw doesn’t have what it takes.


14 posted on 06/17/2011 8:35:15 PM PDT by bigbob
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To: randita

Tim won’t win.


15 posted on 06/17/2011 10:41:25 PM PDT by pallis
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To: randita

No.


16 posted on 06/17/2011 10:42:44 PM PDT by MattinNJ (Palin/West vs. Obama/Biden.)
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To: randita

Pawlenty ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ
yawnZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ


17 posted on 06/18/2011 1:26:09 AM PDT by timetostand (Ya say ya wanna revolution -- OK!)
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To: randita
Pawlenty seems like a nice person, more conservative and principled than Romney will ever be in his magical ten lifetimes on those bizarre planet heavens, has more executive experience than Bachmann, ten times more brains than Rick Perry will ever have, ...

But Pawlenty lacks courage. You could see it written across his face in the recent debate, and it permeates from the core of his existence. His facial expression was like that of a toddler who had just pooped his diaper.

Romney lacks principles and courage, but compensates with tremendous arrogance and deceit. That is the very definition of evil, according to the late M. Scott Peck. Romney gave us Obama, by sending forth his demon backstabbers in Autumn 2008 to sabotage the Republican campaign. Romney will destroy the USA, just as surely as Obama, and with greater efficiency.

18 posted on 06/18/2011 1:51:33 AM PDT by meadsjn (Sarah 2012, or sooner)
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To: randita

I’ve seen him in two debates and heard one interview. Based on that and assorted stories I’ll go with “No.” He’s a mouse. We need a lion.


19 posted on 06/18/2011 4:24:34 AM PDT by newzjunkey (Help Jim DeMint: http://www.cutcapbalancepledge.com/)
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To: randita

Short answer. No.


20 posted on 06/18/2011 4:24:42 AM PDT by ejdrapes (Jump in Sarah, the water is warm...)
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