Great choice!

Hmm. . . .interesting.  Minn. traditionally hasn't bought the slop that the repubs. have been selling the last 8-10 years and this could be a way to (possibly) make a dent in this state and surrounding areas.  Don't know of any baggage he carries.  Only negatives are lack of sizzle- what does he bring outside of the land of a zillion lakes and funny accents?  Can he deliver enough states to earn the position in the first place?

He is a high list choice, at least in May, 2008. Minnesota is a state that McCain can win with the right circumstances.

I'd be looking for someone who is a little more conservative. I don't think he can move Minnesota into the red column.

I'd bet that Pawlenty is one of the top three candidate that are being vetted by McCain. He was in McCain's corner last year when his campaign was on life support. He is a moderate conservative who is relatively scandal free and is much younger than McCain. He is viewed as one of the up and comers in the Republican party. He will help out McCain with domestic issues, where he is weak one. Pawlenty should also be helpful to McCain in the Midwest. Some have argued that Pawlenty isn't strong enough politically to help the Republicans carry his home state of Minnesota (he was re-elected in 2006 only by a narrow margin), but that should not be much of an issue. He is probably one of the better candidates available.

If McCain perceives that Pawlenty could deliver Minnesota's electoral votes, Pawlenty will be approached.  It's a stretch at best, Minnesota has had a tough ten years or so electing republicans.