KARE, MN
03-16-07
McCain, Pawlenty play down VP discussion
Arizona Sen. John McCain campaigned alongside Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty
Thursday and, for a moment they, almost acted like the 2008 Republican ticket
had been decided.
Pawlenty introduced McCain as "the next president of the United States."
McCain thanked Pawlenty, who currently is serving as the co-chair of the
senator's presidential exploratory committee, by calling the governor "the future
of leadership of Republicans in America."
But after a town meeting in Ames, Iowa, McCain brushed aside talk of Pawlenty
as a future running mate.
"First of all, I haven't thought about it," McCain said. "And it would be very
premature at this particular stage."
To be sure, McCain's presidential bid would need to gain traction, first. In Iowa
and elsewhere, he is slipping in the polls.
Pawlenty said he was in Iowa Thursday just to take a ride on McCain's "Straight
Talk Express" bus and get caught up with a man he admires.
"I've said before, and I'll say again, I'm committed to being governor of
Minnesota," Pawlenty told reporters. "And this is about supporting, as a
volunteer, Sen. John McCain and not about me needing or wanting some
position."
The director of Iowa State University's political science department, Jim
McCormick, said Pawlenty's road trip with McCain will introduce more
Americans to the governor -- no matter who ends up with the republican
nomination.
"One goal he clearly has is to kind of raise his national profile," McCormick said.
"Whether he has any kind of vice presidential aspirations, or to be a cabinet
member, or to even be a cabinet member, or to even be prominent in his home
state."
But as Pawlenty spends time here in Iowa, his political opponents at home were
quick to point out there's flooding in western Minnestoa. The DFL accused
Pawlenty of placing his national poltical ambitions ahead of the interests of
Minnesotans who just re-elected him.
"With all due respect to the DFL, I think they're trying to score political points over
something that is not an issue," Pawlenty said.
Pawlenty is going to Browns Valley, Minn., to tour flood damage on Friday. He
said he would have cancelled the trip to Iowa if the damage needed immediate
attention.
"I love Minnesota," the governor said. "And I really enjoy the job I have right
now."
As for John McCain, he was in Iowa to meet with voters and raise his own profile
ahead of next January's Iowa caucuses. He met with voters at two town hall
meetings Thursday.