Pawlenty insists Iowa campaign swing not about 2012

Midway through a weekend of fundraising events for Iowa Republicans, Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty tried to keep the focus on them and their races this fall.

“I don't want to be cute about 2012,” he said Aug. 1 on his third visit since the 2008 election to the first-in-the-nation caucus state. Pawlenty, who is considered a likely candidate for the GOP presidential nomination, made stops in Dubuque, Waverly and Cedar Rapids Aug. 1, and was scheduled to appear in West Liberty and Davenport Sunday to help candidates who share his ideas and values.

“We believe the country is in trouble. We need to advance a return to common sense,” the two-term governor said. “This isn't so much about getting ready for 2012 as making sure that 2010 is successful for Republicans. If that goes well, then I'll consider my options for 2012 sometime early next year.”

Pawlenty, 49, senses voters share his concern that President Obama's “government-centric” approach to the economy “is not working and won't work,” that government spending is growing too fast and that the president and Democrats who control Congress have used a “bait-and-switch” approach to force change, including health care reform.

He rejects the “Party of No” label pinned on Republicans, arguing that the GOP is articulating ideas on health care reform and other issues.

“It's just that the president gets more attention because he is the president and has the bully pulpit,” Pawlenty said.

So Republicans have to present their ideas in bold and dramatic fashion “and that's what the campaign is about,” Pawlenty said.

Using himself as an example, Pawlenty said Republicans can make positive change when they have the opportunity to lead.

“I've demonstrated you can be conservative in a very liberal place,” he said about his tenure as governor of a decidedly blue state. “I've made positive changes in Minnesota on a lot of the same issues the country is facing - government spending, education reform, entitlement reform, health care reform - a lot of things the country is going to facing and will be debating.”

He's optimistic voters will give the GOP control of the U.S. House, giving them “a wonderful opportunity to put on display their ideas and agenda for a better future.”

“I don't think it's a mystery what Republicans stand for, but now we have a public re-embracing conservative values and those ideas,” he said. “That's why I think it will go well this fall.”

And then he can think about 2012.