While this is not actually breaking news, Eric Black has the scoop:
So, to be specific, speculation about Pawlenty seeking national office in 2008 was already present in 2006 as the guv approached the question of seeking reelection. Without question, it would have been awkward to seek a new four-year term if voters thought he might ditch halfway through. So, on May 31, 2006, the day he announced in a park in Eagan that he would seek a second term, Pawlenty said:
“As to my future, if I run for governor and win, I will serve out my term for four years as governor.”
No weasel words here. Not “expect to” serve my full four years. Not “plan to.” “Will.” I have always taken it as an unequivocal statement of a commitment, although that’s my naïve streak coming through.
By the way, thanks to the miracle of the Internet, you can watch the video and decide for yourself whether there’s a wink or a nod there that left open the possibility that Pawlenty would do something other serve out his four-year term. (In the clip, WCCO states that Pawlenty’s comment “might well put an end to speculation that the governor would take off mid-term for Washington and a higher office.”)
Read the full story here. And yes, since June or so, his rhetoric has changed a bit.
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Rybak versus Pawlenty 2010.
Hmmmm, kind of like Biden a couple of weeks ago on Meet the Press telling people that he was not interested in being VP and said, “I do not want to be asked.”
January 22, 2006, Meet the Press:
Obama: “I will serve out my full six-year term. You know, Tim, if you get asked enough, sooner or later you’re going to get weary and you start looking for new ways of saying things. But my thinking has not changed.”
I can’t fault anyone for changing their mind… Biden, Obama, Pawlenty. If your calling is public service, of course you are always considering higher office. It is not a phenomenon that afflicts just one party.
Aaron,
Now, no one dislikes T-Paw more than me. The man literally disgusts me. But if you are asked to serve your country as its number 2, you do it. Period. Even if you swear on your mother’s grave you’ll finish your term, if someone higher calls, you say “yes sir”. This would be a lame attack, and I cannot believe I am agreeing with DTM and GoGogal. Alec
Yawn…I suspect that Mr. Landry will use the VP selection to criticize Pawlenty either.
A - If he is named VP he’ll attack him for not keeping his word
B - If he is NOT named VP, he’ll say that Pawlenty was rejected and is a weak candidate.
Like I said..YAWN. Can’t we find some high schoolers who can do more creative writing than this?
PF4aWG
You’re right. A high schooler can write more creatively than you can.
“I’ll only serve two terms in the Senate”, which did turn out to be true…
I think Tom’s comments were a low blow. I’m just trying to figure out where Aaron is going with this. Is McCain selecting Pawlenty good or bad for MN? Looks like
Aaron is trying to have it both ways. I’m not too worried. Obama will win, Franken will lose. Life will go on.