Politico jumps on Pawlenty for VP buzz
Politico has a must read on the GOP buzz surrounding Gov. Pawlenty's chances at VP. Pawlenty didn't comment for the article but plenty of others did.
Update:
Just watched my tivo'd Meet the Press. A few members of the Capital Gang say Pawlenty has a shot. Here's the final rundown:
MR. RUSSERT: Who will McCain take, Bob?
MR. NOVAK: They don't have any idea, but I'll make a prediction that it will be somebody that will really not be on the A-list. And I have some, I have some possibilities.
MR. RUSSERT: Give us one.
MR. NOVAK: One would be former Congressman, former special trade, U.S. trade representative, former budget director Rob Portman. I think he would be an excellent...
MR. RUSSERT: From Ohio.
MR. NOVAK: From Ohio. Another one would be a younger congressman, ranking Republican on the Budget Committee and a tax cutter, Paul Ryan. Somebody like that who would, who would be younger than McCain, which isn't hard to find, and, and somebody who would be much more regular on taxes than McCain has been.
MR. RUSSERT: Let's go around the table. Quick guess. John McCain's VP.
MS. O'BEIRNE: Younger, outside Washington, with experience in economic and domestic policy issues. Maybe Rob Portman, maybe Governor Mark Sanford of South Carolina or Tim Pawlenty of Minnesota.
MR. SHIELDS: Got to be worried about John McCain-Fred Thompson. You don't need two grumpy old white men on the--on the ticket. So I think Kate is right. I think I'd consider gender. I'd think about a woman. Kay Bailey Hutchison has been mentioned. I know there's resistance to her, but from Texas. I think Mel Martinez, if he can find his baptismal certificate that he was born in Miami instead of Havana, I think, you know, a Latino would make sense. But I think--I'd probably bet on Pawlenty at this point.
MR. RUSSERT: Margaret.
MS. CARLSON: I think John McCain needs somebody younger, of course, but who's created a job and who's had executive experience, and so it argues for a governor. Could be Governor Crist, who's at about 70 percent in Florida, and delivered Florida to him, or I agree, Sanford, who's young, cheerful, and would...
MR. NOVAK: Cheerful?
MS. CARLSON: I think he--well, compared to you, compared to you and John McCain.
MR. NOVAK: I'm a Sanford fan, but nobody's ever called him cheerful.
MR. RUSSERT: Albert Hunt.
MR. HUNT: I agree with Kate. I think it's either Sanford or Pawlenty.
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