While his focus has been on the Iowa Republicans' straw poll next month, Gov. Tim Pawlenty of Minnesota turned his eyes to the Sunshine State as he continued to build his campaign for the Republican presidential nomination.
Pawlenty announced Tuesday that he will speak at the Conservative Political Action Conference's (CPAC) Florida event in September and he will be in the Republican Party of Florida (RPOF) presidential debate during the Presidency 5 straw poll. The CPAC meeting, backed by the American Conservative Union (ACU),will be Sept. 23 and the straw poll will be Sept. 24 -- and both will be in Orlando.
"Our nation is facing big challenges, and President Obama has failed to rise to the occasion," Pawlenty said in a statement. "Our nation needs a leader who doesn't just talk but actually gets things done, and I am excited to present my record to voters (via) the RPOF and Fox News debate."
With Republican front-runner Mitt Romney taking a pass on the straw poll, Pawlenty will try to one-up the former Massachusetts governor on the CPAC stage.
"CPAC has played a pivotal role in energizing the national Republican Party, and I and my fellow Floridians are proud to host the first regional CPAC here in the Sunshine State," saidincoming Florida House Speaker Rep. Will Weatherford, R-Wesley Chapel, who has endorsed the former Minnesota governor.
Most, if not all, of the GOP presidential hopefuls are expected to be on hand, because Fox News will host a Sept. 22 debate.
While Romney reiterated this week that he will not participate in the P5 poll, he is slated to address CPAC. Other confirmed CPAC speakers are presidential candidate Rick Santorum, U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio and ACU Chairman Al Cardenas.
As chief executive of one of the nations key battleground states, Governor Pawlenty held the conservative line on the tough policy issues from cutting spending without tax increases to taking on teacher tenure, said Cardenas. Governor Pawlenty has been a frequent and popular featured speaker at American Conservative Union events, and we look forward to welcoming him to the Sunshine State this fall for CPAC FL.
Pawlenty also continued building his team in Florida. He unveiled Tuesday the backing of Slater Bayliss, a longtime Republican activist now with the Advocacy Group at Cardenas Partners, who will be a co-chair for his campaign in Florida, and named Bret Prater, who was political director at RPOF during the 2010 election cycle, to his team in the Sunshine State.
"Mr. Bayliss has a proven record of achievement in both the public and private sector, and I look forward to him leading my team to success in Florida, Gov. Pawlenty said."We share a commitment to cutting spending and restoring fiscal discipline, and I am honored by his support."
"As the former director of Floridians for Responsible Spending, I admire Governor Pawlenty's unwavering dedication to reducing unnecessary spending," said Bayliss. "As governor of Minnesota, Pawlenty did not shy away from the oftentimes unpopular decisions necessary to balance the budget.Unlike President Obama, Pawlenty will make tough choices to spur economic growth and increase jobs."
"Governor Pawlenty is an extraordinary leader who was able to make real conservative change in a traditionally liberal state," said Prater, who also worked on various campaigns for the Bush brothers in Florida."I look forward to familiarizing Floridians with his record of results."
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or at (850) 727-0859. Contact Kenric Ward at kward@sunshinestatenews.com or at (772) 559-4719.
