• Tim Pawlenty

    Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty To Announce 2012 Presidential Campaign Team

    Guess this is why Flap was invited to a blogger conference call this morning at 10:30 AM Eastern time.

    Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty has been quietly assembling the blueprint of a presidential campaign and will announce Thursday the support of a group of high-level political strategists and donors, complemented by a handful of top new media consultants, POLITICO has learned.

    Pawlenty, under the radar of D.C.’s political community, has locked up some of the key operatives who engineered then-President George W. Bush’s reelection campaign — a significant feat for a little-known Midwestern politician.

    The moves underscore, and will lend credence to, the emerging belief among many establishment Republicans that Pawlenty is becoming the sole viable alternative to former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, a potential Republican primary rival. The Minnesota governor has even gone so far as to contact some of Romney’s former supporters.

    Pawlenty, who previously has had little political infrastructure, is now being advised by a trio of GOP consultants with presidential experience: Terry Nelson, Sara Taylor and Phil Musser.

    And in formally opening his political action committee, Freedom First, Thursday, Pawlenty will also announce two co-chairmen, William Strong, a Morgan Stanley vice chairman, and former Rep. Vin Weber (R-Minn.), both of whom are heavyweight GOP figures, along with a list of prominent Minnesota donors.

    This is definitely a shot across the bow for Team Romney and Pawlenty has locked up some new media heavyweights with Patrick Ruffini and Patrick Hynes. Pawlenty’s Freedom First website is already up and looks impressive.

    Now, over to Mitt Romney and any other potential 2012 Presidential candidates, like Sarah Palin.

    Flap will be on the blogger conference call and will report about it when I can – it is a clinical dental practice day for me.


    Technorati Tags: