Last Stand For Tim Pawlenty In Iowa?

It's odd but just as the race is beginning it's sort of near the end.

Will Tim Pawlenty do well enough in Iowa to attract more support? Can he accomplish that with a second place finish? Or a third? (Count on Ron Paul to finish near the top, of course.)

“The problem Tim Pawlenty has is he’s doing everything right,” said Iowa strategist Steve Grubbs, a former Iowa GOP chairman and state legislator. “He has the right team in place. He’s spending the money. He’s got a good grass-roots strategy, and they’re investing the time in the state. So it’s going to be difficult to say they didn’t make a strong effort.”

...

Pawlenty and his supporters have worked hard to keep expectations low for the event, with the candidate clinging to the role of underdog despite all the evidence that he has a clear shot at victory...

Conant said predictions that Pawlenty needs a first- or second-place finish were off the mark: “If the people ahead of us are not viewed as likely or credible nominees, that’s less of a hurdle. I think these things are very hard to predict.”

Iowa caucus veterans say the calculus for Pawlenty is both simpler and harsher: Anything short of a flat-out win will make it exceedingly difficult for him to claim momentum in the rapidly accelerating 2012 primary race.

As some might know I was a Pawlenty supporter, but not enough people joined me. The party seems to be on a No Experience Required kick.

On the other hand, Bachmann is admirably forthright:

When Bachmann gives a brief speech to the approximately 100 employees assembled, she talks about what she wants for them, and for all employees in America: higher wages and better benefits. She paints a picture of how promoting free-trade agreements, axing regulations, and cutting the corporate tax rate could help bring those goals about....

Asked about entitlement reform, Bachmann says we must be “crystal clear” that no plan will impact current retireees’ Social Security and Medicare...

“But what I think we all recognize is the current system is flat broke,” Bachmann continued. Then, without ever using the word “voucher,” she started to talk about how great it would be if senior citizens could choose their health-care plan, and not be forced to join Medicare. “I want to let every American choose,” Bachmann says.

Well, that is definitely forward-leaning on a politically tough subject.

posted by Ace at 03:34 PM

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