Former Gov. Tim Pawlenty of Minnesota hit the Sunshine State Tuesday, a day after announcing his bid for the Republican presidential nomination, and won some warm words from a favorite son of Sunshine State Republicans while drawing fire from Democrats.
Both sides played off Pawlentys call for truth in politics that he repeated Monday when he entered the race.
"The time has come for Americas president and anyone who wants to be president to look you in the eye and tell you the truth," said Pawlenty in his announcement speech which was made in Des Moines on Monday. "If we dont change directions in 2012, if we do not move quickly and decisively, if we are not willing to chip in to sacrifice some of our own comfort and convenience for the lives and liberties of our children, it may be too late.
"Tomorrow Im going to Florida, to look both young people and seniors in the eye and tell them the truth, that our entitlement programs are on an unsustainable path. And that inaction is no longer an option," added Pawlenty. "Conventional wisdom says you cant talk about ethanol in Iowa or Social Security in Florida or financial reform on Wall Street. But someone has to say it. Someone has to finally stand up and level with the American people. Someone has to lead."
Pawlenty headed to the Sunshine State on Monday night for an event with prominent Republicans in the Tampa Bay area before heading to Coral Gables on Tuesday where he held a town hall event on Facebook.
Leaders from both parties welcomed the newly declared presidential candidate on Tuesday.
Former Gov. Jeb Bush, who reiterated earlier in the week that he was not running for the nomination, praised Pawlenty for attacking federal subsidies going for ethanol -- a position which has traditionally proven unpopular in Iowa, home of the first caucus and a state the former Minnesota governor needs to do well in if his campaign is to take flight.
I admire truth telling and T-Paw sure did it to open his campaign, noted Bush on his Twitter account on Tuesday morning, linking to a piece in the Wall Street Journal written by Pawlenty on ethanol subsidies.
While Bush offered praise for the former Minnesota governor, Florida Democratic Party Chairman Rod Smith hammered Pawlenty.
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.
U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, the newly elected chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee, followed up this line of attack on Twitter.
Tim Pawlenty is in South Fla. today, noted the South Florida congresswoman. Will he answer this question? If president, would he sign or veto Ryan plan to end Medicare?
Pawlenty was not the only Republican presidential candidate in Florida on Tuesday. Former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania spoke to the St. Johns County Republican Party in St. Augustine on Tuesday night which also featured former state House Majority Leader Adam Hasner, who is running for the Republican nomination to take on Democratic U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson in 2012. Santorum also made two radio appearances in the Tampa Bay area on Tuesday afternoon.
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or at (850) 727-0859.
