Tim Pawlenty Drops Out Of Presidential Race After Poor Showing In Ames

Posted on August 14, 2011 by sensico

Tim Pawlenty has dropped his presidential bid after a poor showing in the Ames straw poll. Making the republican presidential hopeful field one viable candidate short. Pawlenty was only one of 3 candidates that could possibly beat Pres. Obama in 2012.

Unfortunately for Tim Pawlenty, he put too much resources in a straw poll that doesn’t really matter and a straw poll where substance on the issues isn’t valued by people who voted in Ames. Also noting that Michelle Bachmann is from Iowa, he really didn’t stand a chance.

Pawlenty poured a million into trying to win this insignificant poll. A poll only represents the far right of the republican party, not the (relatively) sensible sect of the GOP that would likely vote for him. The sad part is that Tim Pawlenty was finally getting his mojo, taking on Michelle Bachmann and her little achievements (her only achievement being passing the light bulb bill). Pawlenty could have been a moderate alternative to Mitt Romney who conservatives feel can’t trust. He could have exposed more of Romney’s flaws and argue on the issues and substance of his “achievements”.

However, as a moderate democrat that sees nothing enticing about the GOP field that would make me change my vote from Pres. Obama, I’m quite content with Pawlenty’s decision. That’s one less person that will make it hard for Pres. Obama to win another term.

Another thing to note is how this reflects on the republican party as a whole. We have to think, did Pawlenty quit only because he came in a distant third in the Ames straw poll? No! It’s because of that, that he won’t be able to raise the money required to run his campaign. Donors don’t believe in keeping relatively substantive candidates in the field. Most only care about supporting the candidates that to the far right of the country. The candidates that don’t have a chance of winning in a general election. The GOP is kicking out the politicians that with some time could be stars within their party.