Democrats call Tim Pawlenty “Bachmannesque”

Bachmann stumps for Pawlenty

The Dump Bachmann blog, citing the Minnesota Independent’s coverage of  Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty’s recent visit to Virginia to support embattled Republican gubernatorial candidate Bob McDonnell, reports that “Michele Bachmann’s political poison continues to taint other Republican politicians.”

Donna Cassutt, associate chair of the Minnesota DFL Party, accused Pawlenty of “trying to cull favor with the extreme right wing” of the national party in recent weeks to secure his chances as a Republican candidate for president. …

“The only way that Republicans could be convinced to take out Michele Bachmann,” according Dump Bachmann “would be if she became too much of a distraction to other Republican politicians.”

Excerpts from the Minnesota Independent report:

Dems Pull Out Stops to Tie Pawlenty to McDonnell

By Chris Steller
The Minnesota Independent
September 9, 2009

The national Democratic Party joined forces with two of its state organizations to tar Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty with a hard-right social “manifesto” — a 1989 master’s-degree thesis by Bob McDonnell, Republican candidate for governor in Virginia.

As Pawlenty crossed the Old Dominion on Wednesday campaigning for McDonnell, Democrats held a teleconference with national reporters and Minnesota media. Why pick on T-Paw? Because, said Richard Cranwell, chairman of the Democratic Party of Virginia, “he’s the first superstar we’ve had out here since the manifesto manifested itself.”

McDonnell’s thesis sets a course for the GOP against contraception for married couples, in opposition to working mothers, and in favor of discrimination against gay people.

Cranwell …. denied that the tele-press conference was part of a strategy to extend the damage to McDonnell that began with an Aug. 30 article in the Washington Post, where the story continues to develop.

“I don’t see it as a strategy,” Cranwell said, calling McDonnell “an individual at the extreme spectrum [sic] on some very basic, fundamental issues.” …

Donna Cassutt, associate chair of the Minnesota DFL Party, accused Pawlenty of “trying to cull favor with the extreme right wing” of the national party in recent weeks to secure his chances as a Republican candidate for president.

Calling Pawlenty “comparable to Michele Bachmann,” Cassutt sought to link what she termed Pawlenty’s “Bachmann-esque” statements to McDonnell’s views, citing the Minnesotan’s worries about President Obama’s back-to-school speech and so-called health-reform “death panels.” …

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Related links

Bob and Governor Pawlenty in Richmond

Governor Pawlenty at University of Mary Washington

Governor Pawlenty in Alexandria

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FROM THE ARCHIVES: One Year Ago — September 10, 2008

After the Primary Election: Day 1

“Good Try! 14%” — Nine-year-old Elizabeth presents me with a cake on behalf of my family to welcome me home from the campaign trail.

One year ago today, on the first day after the Sept. 9, 2008 Minnesota State Primary Election in which I challenged U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann for the Republican nomination as House of Representatives candidate in Minnesota’s 6th Congressional District, I reported and analyzed the election results, thanked my supporters, and congratulated Rep. Bachmann on her win.

Here, again, is a summary and initial analysis of the results:

Results from Minnesota CD 06 for U.S. Representative (Certified)

Number of Registered Voters: 425,609
Precincts Reporting: 100.00% (318 of 318)

Republican
Michele Bachmann     19,127   (85.9%)    [47.15%]
Aubrey Immelman       3,134    (14.1%)      [7.73%]

Democratic-Farmer-Labor
El Tinklenberg             17,474   (100%)     [43.08%]

Independence
Bob Anderson                  828   (100%)       [2.04%]

Note: Numbers in square brackets signify candidates’ percentage of the 40,563 vote total.

In summary, out of 40,563 votes cast, Rep. Bachmann received a plurality (47.2%), but not a majority, of the vote, with 19,127 votes for and 21,436 against. Thus, the Sixth District appears to remain competitive for Democrats. However, it should also be noted that the 22,261 combined vote total of the two Republican candidates comprised 54.9% of the vote. Ultimately, I would caution against drawing strong conclusions from an unrepresentative primary election sample, in which 385,046 voters (90.5%) chose not to vote.

Watching the election returns with my wife Pam (center) and supporter Nancy Carver at Rumors Bar & Grill, Little Rock Lake, Sept. 9, 2008.