Republicans Hang Pawlenty Out to Dry

By refusing to certify Franken, Minn. gov risks own future
By Kevin Spak,  Newser Staff
Posted May 6, 2009 12:14 PM CDT
Republicans Hang Pawlenty Out to Dry
In this Dec. 4, 2008 file photo, Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty holds up a piece of paper as he addresses the media.   (AP Photo/Jim Mone, File)

By refusing to certify Al Franken’s Senate win, Tim Pawlenty is taking a big political risk, writes Nate Silver of FiveThirtyEight.com. The Minnesota governor’s numbers have dropped precipitously since November; he currently has just a 46% approval rating, with 50% disapproving. The Franken/Coleman fracas may not bear all the blame, but considering that three-fifths of Minnesotans favor seating Franken, it can’t be helping, either.

National Republicans are probably promising Pawlenty their support for a 2012 presidential run, but that won’t matter if the Senate standoff helps ensure he isn’t reelected in 2010. “It is intrinsically difficult to be a Republican in Minnesota,” writes Silver. “If he is seen as carrying water for the national Republicans, he may get himself in even more trouble.”

(More Tim Pawlenty stories.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X