Posted on 08/16/2011 4:35:46 AM PDT by markomalley
The Minnesota delegation’s 2012 support is suddenly up for grabs, but whether the only Minnesotan left in the 2012 GOP presidential race can capture those endorsements is far from decided.
Republican Reps. John Kline and Erik Paulsen, two of former Gov. Tim Pawlenty’s (R) most prominent Capitol Hill backers, haven’t sprinted to support their home-state colleague Rep. Michele Bachmann since Pawlenty abruptly ended his candidacy Sunday.
Rep. Chip Cravaack (R), a conservative who would appear to be more aligned with Bachmann’s ideals than the former governor, hasn’t rushed to her side either.
When Bachmann sought the House Republican Conference chairmanship, she had votes from her two best friends and her home team GOP delegation. But according to Roll Call’s analysis of Member endorsements, despite becoming the first woman — and Minnesotan — to win the Ames straw poll, she stands alone.
Spokesmen for Kline and Paulsen did not respond Monday to requests for comment on whether they would back Bachmann.
Cravaack spokesman Michael Bars was elusive, telling Roll Call in an email simply: “Nothing to report.”
Pressed whether this meant Cravaack was pondering an endorsement or had decided not to endorse Bachmann at all, Bars doubled down on his enigmatic response. “There is nothing to report whatsoever,” he said. “Chip’s focused on the 8th [district].”
Former Rep. Vin Weber (R), who held the 6th district seat Bachmann now holds and served as an unofficial adviser for the Pawlenty campaign, told Roll Call he would endorse another candidate at some point.
Weber, who publicly apologized after telling the Hill last month that Bachmann’s “sex appeal” was among the things that could help her in Iowa, said in a phone interview that he would look for a candidate who could articulate a hopeful economic message. But he didn’t mention Bachmann.
“I’m going to think it over a little bit and let the dust settle,” he said.
Of course not. They are pure GOP Establishment tools. They will back whomever the party tells them to back.
We’ve got the same problem in Michigan. They’ll back Romney no matter what.
I’m thinking along the lines of a Perry/Cain ticket.
Kline and Cravaack are “establishment tools”??? Okey-dokey.
And as for Paulsen and Weber, they are establishment types, but they are also rock-ribbed conservatives. BTW, I think that Paulsen, as a social and economic conservative (Ramstad he ain’t) who manages to get elected in the Hennepin County suburbs, would make a terrific Senate candidate.
It is entirely possible to be cool to a Michele Bachmann presidential candidacy, or at least to be willing to consider other candidates, without being an “establishment tool.”
The article claims that Kline and Paulsen are Bachmann’s closest friends in the MN congressional delegation, so I would think that the reason that they didn’t immediately endorse her for the presidency is not that they don’t like her. One can like a person and not believe that she is the unquestionable best possible GOP nominee for the presidency.
gosh, i’ll bet they’re going to back that rino, spending-america-to-death
romney.
Thanks for your response. I should have been more clear. I do not equate personal friendships with political or professional goodwill.
They have never bucked the leadership on anything. So, since you object to the term "GOP Establishment tool", I will rephrase it.
They are all good GOP party loyalists. They will go where ever the party tells them to go. They are followers not leaders.
Do tell... If you look at the congressional record you will see Cravaack voted alongside Bachmann in refusing to vote for the debt ceiling fiasco.
Have you ever considered the possibility that many of them don’t think she can win in the general election?
If that were the case they would endorse the one they thought could win.
Such a pity how so many Republicans, and Conservatives, choose to ignore the message because the media tells them this or that candidate “has no chance”
Given what a mess the leadership of both parties has created in DC, it would be nice if GOP voters would try thinking for themselves in 2012 instead of being such sheep.
“If that were the case they would endorse the one they thought could win.”
Two points
1. They will
2. For Gods sake it’s only Aug. 2011, and not a single vote has been cast!
“Such a pity how so many Republicans, and Conservatives, choose to ignore the message because the media tells them this or that candidate “has no chance””
I won’t speak for others but I say while she may win win it must be admitted she has a real tough row to hoe, as (I’m sure you know) Grover Cleveland was the last sitting member of the House to win the WH. While she is no doubt a big favorite here and I really really like her a lot, it must be admitted she’s far to the right of most voters. it should also be noted she’s had a tough time winning her House races.
IF she wins the nomination...I’m there. With the exception of Ron Paul (remember letters of marque and reprisal?) I can say the same for them all.
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