Tim Pawlenty Under Fire From Florida Democrats

Two candidates for the Republican presidential nomination -- former Gov. Tim Pawlenty of Minnesota and former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum -- are hitting the Sunshine State on Tuesday and Florida Democratic Party Chairman Rod Smith showed on Monday that he is taking one of them seriously.

Smith attacked Pawlenty -- and also threw a jab at former Gov. Mitt Romney of Massachusetts -- for hemming and hawing on backing the proposed budget crafted by Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis., and backed by congressional Republicans.

Tim Pawlenty spoke a lot about the truth and straight talk yesterday, but he has repeatedly dodged giving a direct answer on whether, as president, he would sign the Ryan budget that dismantles Medicare. As president you either sign the bill or you dont. There isnt room for a wily, equivocating, Romney-esque answer, only strong leadership. So, which will it be Governor Pawlenty? demanded Smith. Absent a yes or no answer on this fundamental question, Pawlenty wont have the credibility to utter the words hard truth in Florida without eliciting laughter ever again.