Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty all-but took himself out of any 2008 White House consideration last month when he imposed a new sales tax on cigarettes that will push the cost up by more than a dollar per pack. As Free Enterprise Fund Vice President Peter Roff told The Buzz in a recent phone interview:
“Everyone that thought he could be president stopped thinking that when the tax issue came up. Anytime a Republican governor stands up for a net tax increase they knock themselves down the greasy ladder all of them are trying to climb to be president.”
So, Pawlenty will have to put aside his presidential ambitions for now, if not permanently. But what about re-election? When Pawlenty and Senator Norm Coleman were elected in 2002, they signaled a potential shift in the dynamic of Minnesota politics. Both may have been lifted by President Bush’s heightened popularity, but both have had a few years to establish their own identities. With regards to Pawlenty’s potential re-election, Roff said:
“I’m trying to be honest here but not critical. It doesn’t hurt his re-election effort. The Minnesota Democratic Party is in such disarray they don’t have anyone that can beat him.”
The question then becomes if Pawlenty wins re-election can he as governor help swing the state Republican in 2008? Coleman will be running for re-election and seems to have grown in popularity with Minnesota voters. With the right name at the top of the presidential ticket, Minnesota could potentially go Republican for the first time since 1972.
[ 08/05/2005 12:58 PM]
