pawlenty100809

On the homepage

Food

Out There

Reusse's Turkey

A convincing body of confusing turkey calls

NewsBreak

The NewsBreak Holiday Special

Home | Politically Connected | State Politics

Pawlenty's trip to Iowa seen as testing the waters for 2012

Governor to attend a GOP event in the state that is a key battleground in the presidential race.

By K EVIN DIAZ and RACHEL E. STASSEN-BERGER

Last update: October 7, 2009 - 10:02 PM

Print this story

More from State Politics

WASHINGTON-Gov. Tim Pawlenty, mulling a White House run in 2012, will head next month to the historical proving ground for most start-up presidential campaigns -- Iowa.

Pawlenty will be the featured guest for the Iowa GOP's signature fall event, titled, "Leadership for Iowa," on Nov. 7 at the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines.

Although he has traveled extensively across the country to introduce himself to Republican voters, this will be Pawlenty's first foray to the early caucus state since announcing that he would not seek a third term.

The governor said Wednesday that he had previously "made a point of avoiding Iowa ... so I wouldn't create this kind of speculation." But he had to say yes when he was asked "to help my neighboring state," he said.

The trip's announcement comes a week after Pawlenty formed the Freedom First PAC, a political action committee designed to raise money for Republican candidates and to raise his national profile. Further fueling speculation about his presidential ambitions, the committee includes a roster of veteran advisers from the presidential campaigns of George W. Bush and John McCain.

"When you look up north and see the leadership that Gov. Pawlenty has provided for the state of Minnesota, we look at that as an example of the kind of leadership we'd like our governor to embody," said Jeff Boeyink, Iowa Republican Party executive director.

Boeyink said activists, county GOP chairs and donors will attend the event. Those are all potentially valuable folks to know should Pawlenty officially jump into the 2012 race.

Pawlenty downplayed the implications of the trip, saying it was no different from the myriad trips he has taken recently to support Republicans across the nation.

But Iowa is different. The Iowa caucuses will formally kick off the 2012 presidential election as it does every four years.

"This is just one in many visits to Iowa by Republicans this time around who are testing the waters, seeing how they play in this pre-campaign stage" said Cary Covington, political science professor at the University of Iowa.

DFLers took advantage of a Pawlenty appearance in Eagan on Wednesday to issue a tongue-in-cheek statement about Pawlenty's travels: "Governor Pawlenty will make an appearance in Minnesota today, taking a break from his hectic schedule of travelling the country with his campaign team of Bush advisors," DFL Chairman Brian Melendez said in the statement.

Pawlenty will hold the first fundraiser for his political action committee on Oct. 22, at the Washington home of lobbyist John Milne and his wife Deb Anderson. His PAC's first Minnesota fundraiser will be in Minneapolis on Nov. 4, three days before he goes to Iowa.

Political observers have been waiting for Pawlenty to make a move in either Iowa or New Hampshire, both critical battlegrounds in presidential politics.

Pawlenty has not been to New Hampshire since the 2008 election. He campaigned for McCain in Iowa last year, when he was considered a front-runner to become the Republican nominee's running mate.

A potential 2012 rival, Massachusetts Republican Mitt Romney, finished second in the Iowa caucuses last year behind former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, who could also be a contender in 2012.

That was the same order of finish in a straw poll of conservative voters at the recent Values Voters Summit in Washington. Pawlenty, facing the first test of his nationwide appeal, tied for second with several other candidates and landed one vote behind Romney.

Kevin Diaz • 202-408-2753 Rachel E. Stassen-Berger • 651-292-0164

Recent State Politics stories

Bachmann's DFL rivals tiptoe in a tricky race - October 7, 2009

Bachmann's DFL rivals tiptoe in a tricky race - The challengers seek party's nod while not alienating the conservative district during the health care battle. More

State pork producers request emergency federal aid - October 7, 2009

State pork producers request emergency federal aid - Four members of Minnesota's congressional delegation are seeking emergency federal help for the state's pork industry. More

Comment on this story | Read all 47 comments | Hide reader comments

Governor: Tim Pawlenty
One of only a few prominent Republicans to win a competitive re-election contest in the Democratic sweep of 2006, Tim Pawlenty is widely seen as politically shrewd and naturally likable.

Minnesota's political giants: Learn more about the men and women who have shaped Minnesota's political history.