Tim Pawlenty Minnesotas former Republican governor stepped ahead of the rest of the 2012 GOP presidential field Monday when he announced that he was forming an exploratory committee.
Pawlenty disclosed his plans in a video message posted on his Facebook page becoming the first of the potential candidates for the White House to use a social networking site to jump into the race.
There is a brighter future for America Pawlenty said in the video message.
Some political experts believe Pawlenty needed an early entry into the race to give himself a badly needed boost in name recognition. Recent polls show Pawlenty in the low single digits far behind more familiar GOP contenders such as Sarah Palin Mitt Romney and Mike Huckabee who are considered likely candidates but have yet to announce whether they will run.
In a sense he has to get in the front row now said Paula OLoughlin a political science professor at the University of Minnesotas Morris campus. Because if it gets really crowded he doesnt have that in-built name recognition. The more he can position himself now before all the big names come in the stronger the chance he has.
Some GOP strategists say Pawlenty has an advantage over candidates like Palin the former governor of Alaska and Romney the former governor of Massachusetts because he can define himself to voters without the burden of the negative impressions voters associate with some of the better-known candidates.
I think the Republican nomination is likely to go to somebody who begins in the back of the pack who catches fire sometime in the course of the next year GOP strategist Whit Ayers said.
Pawlentys announcement came in the form of a nearly two-minute Facebook message in which he portrays himself as a candidate with the experience and skills to rescue the nation from its sour economy and high jobless rate. He called for growing jobs limiting government spending and tackling entitlement spending.
Using soaring music and scenes from Minnesota and elsewhere around the country as a backdrop Pawlenty cited his two terms as governor as proof he can help restore limited government in America and encourage the dreamers the innovators the small business owners the hard workers whove asked for nothing more than the freedom to work hard and get ahead without government getting in the way.
Pawlentys announcement was hardly unexpected. His name has been on the long list of potential GOP candidates since 2008 when as the North Star States popular governor he was considered as a potential running mate by Republican presidential nominee Sen. John McCain. McCain ultimately chose Palin who was then Alaskas governor.
Newt Gingrich the former House speaker stopped short of forming an exploratory committee but announced in March he would create a fundraising committee Newt Explore 2012 to seriously look into becoming a presidential candidate.
Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour is also considering a run.
The only GOP candidate to officially form an exploratory committee is Tea Party favorite Herman Cain a former pizza company CEO from Georgia.
Forming an exploratory committees allows candidates to raise money without disclosing donors but does not entitle them to any federal assistance.
About Tim Pawlenty
Age: 50
Political experience: Governor of Minnesota 2003 to 2011; minority leader Minnesota House of Representatives 1999 to 2003; member of the Minnesota House of Representatives 1993 to 2003.
Professional experience: Lawyer; software service company president.
Education: University of Minnesota bachelors degree 1983; law degree 1986.
Family: Married to Mary Anderson two daughters.
Religion: Evangelical Christian
Tim Pawlenty Minnesotas former Republican governor stepped ahead of the rest of the 2012 GOP presidential field Monday when he announced that he was forming an exploratory committee.
Pawlenty disclosed his plans in a video message posted on his Facebook page becoming the first of the potential candidates for the White House to use a social networking site to jump into the race.
There is a brighter future for America Pawlenty said in the video message.
Some political experts believe Pawlenty needed an early entry into the race to give himself a badly needed boost in name recognition. Recent polls show Pawlenty in the low single digits far behind more familiar GOP contenders such as Sarah Palin Mitt Romney and Mike Huckabee who are considered likely candidates but have yet to announce whether they will run.
In a sense he has to get in the front row now said Paula OLoughlin a political science professor at the University of Minnesotas Morris campus. Because if it gets really crowded he doesnt have that in-built name recognition. The more he can position himself now before all the big names come in the stronger the chance he has.
Some GOP strategists say Pawlenty has an advantage over candidates like Palin the former governor of Alaska and Romney the former governor of Massachusetts because he can define himself to voters without the burden of the negative impressions voters associate with some of the better-known candidates.
I think the Republican nomination is likely to go to somebody who begins in the back of the pack who catches fire sometime in the course of the next year GOP strategist Whit Ayers said.
Pawlentys announcement came in the form of a nearly two-minute Facebook message in which he portrays himself as a candidate with the experience and skills to rescue the nation from its sour economy and high jobless rate. He called for growing jobs limiting government spending and tackling entitlement spending.
Using soaring music and scenes from Minnesota and elsewhere around the country as a backdrop Pawlenty cited his two terms as governor as proof he can help restore limited government in America and encourage the dreamers the innovators the small business owners the hard workers whove asked for nothing more than the freedom to work hard and get ahead without government getting in the way.
Pawlentys announcement was hardly unexpected. His name has been on the long list of potential GOP candidates since 2008 when as the North Star States popular governor he was considered as a potential running mate by Republican presidential nominee Sen. John McCain. McCain ultimately chose Palin who was then Alaskas governor.
Newt Gingrich the former House speaker stopped short of forming an exploratory committee but announced in March he would create a fundraising committee Newt Explore 2012 to seriously look into becoming a presidential candidate.
Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour is also considering a run.
The only GOP candidate to officially form an exploratory committee is Tea Party favorite Herman Cain a former pizza company CEO from Georgia.
Forming an exploratory committees allows candidates to raise money without disclosing donors but does not entitle them to any federal assistance.
About Tim Pawlenty
Age: 50
Political experience: Governor of Minnesota 2003 to 2011; minority leader Minnesota House of Representatives 1999 to 2003; member of the Minnesota House of Representatives 1993 to 2003.
Professional experience: Lawyer; software service company president.
Education: University of Minnesota bachelors degree 1983; law degree 1986.
Family: Married to Mary Anderson two daughters.
Religion: Evangelical Christian
