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Pawlenty takes on Snowe

By Eric Zimmermann - 11/03/09 12:40 PM ET

Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R-Minn.) warned Olympia Snowe today that she's risking her position in the GOP by considering a vote for healthcare reform.

"She's somebody who has gotten into the middle of the healthcare debate in a way that makes Republicans mad," Pawlenty said on Morning Joe. "They make accept that, but they're not going to accept her deviating on many other things."

Asked whether he was glad Snowe was a Republican, Pawlenty hedged.

"There is a process in her state that is broad based that endorses her, and the Republicans in that state say 'we want her to be our candidate,'" Pawlenty said.

Pressed on the issue, Pawlenty made clear he wouldn't offer a definitive answer.

PAWLENTY: "I think Olympia Snowe is somebody who is more liberal than most Republicans would like but she is better than having a Democrat represent me."

SCARBOROUGH: "Is that a yes? I think that's a yes."

PAWLENTY: Well look, the people of Maine have an open process, they selected her. It's different [than Scozzafava]."


Source:
http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/66079-pawlenty-takes-on-snowe

Comments (5)

What exactly is Olympia Snowe risking? Was it her public campaigning for John McCain to win the New Hampshire primary last year (he won), or would it be her public introduction of Sarah Palin at a campaign rally in Snowe's home state last fall?BY Chris Baker on 11/03/2009 at 14:37
"What exactly is Olympia Snowe risking?"Which part of, "she's risking her position in the GOP by considering a vote for healthcare reform" did you not understand? You're missing what NY-23 is pointing out…that the Tea Bag movement is real…and BIG!…and can make a difference. The GOP recognizes that and will now fall into line if it wants to keep its head above water. People DO NOT WANT Obamacare, end of story. If Snowe votes for it, she may be looking for a new job. The GOP is being forced back to basics and if they don't get themselves back on course, the voters will simply pull them out of the offing. It's very simple.BY AmericanBelle on 11/03/2009 at 15:53
The Tea Movement is not "big." It is honestly lucky to be in even single digit voters, and they would vote for a Republican over a Democrat 100% of the time based on party name alone. They're terrified and poorly informed people who would rather believe what they read on the internet or hear from Fox News then do their own research, and quite frankly, I don't think an intelligent and well-informed woman like Snowe is worried about them.BY Tea What? on 11/03/2009 at 20:40
The GOP's neo-Trotskyite purity purges risk losing any chance with the 72% of the country that is not crazy. The only big thing about the teabaggers would be their hindquarters, into which they have inserted their swelled heads. Historical note: tea in the 18th century was full-leaf from China and usually green. Cheap teabags are filled with the sweepings of crumbled black tea leaves from places Cthulhu forgot.BY Tea Planter Aristo on 11/03/2009 at 21:11
Maine Democrats hope that the tea-bagging right primaries Olympia Snowe. They might actually succeed in removing her in the primary and then the next senator from Maine would be a democrat, because extreme right conservatives cannot win statewide office in Maine.The 2006 gubernatorial election illustrated this. There were two candidates in the Republican primary. One a moderate, and the other a full-blown Christian right social conservative. Crazy baseland came out in force to nominate the right-winger. Now the incumbent Democratic governor had a 39% approval rating. He should have been easy to beat. But the lack of enthusiasm for the Republican was palpable, so much so that two independents were inspired to get into the race. The Democratic governor is now in his second term, because the vote was split four ways.Social conservatives cannot win statewide. Tim Pawlenty, sucking up to the crazycons for his presidential run, might find it useful to bash Olympia Snowe, but Maine Republicans like her just fine. She's all they've got.BY k from maine on 11/03/2009 at 23:12

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Huffington Post
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