Interesting post here about Tim Pawlenty and the Tea Party:

A two-term governor who typically emphasizes substance over style, Pawlenty has long been setting the groundwork to run a conventional campaign. He carries many of the calling cards of the kind of “safe” GOP candidates who have, in every presidential election of the modern era, beaten back challenges from grassroots favorites who eventually fizzled out in the end.

Though he may lack the rhetorical sizzle of some of the more fiery White House aspirants, including Godfather’s Pizza CEO Herman Cain and Pawlenty’s fellow Minnesotan Rep. Michele Bachmann, Pawlenty has been increasingly aggressive in his efforts to court the insurgent wing of the GOP and has fully embraced the language of the tea party.

Some interesting speculation in there on Iowa, South Carolina, and (especially) New Hampshire.  When it comes to South Carolina, I do wonder whether Pawlenty’s commitment to the Thursday debate will help make up Governor Nikki Haley’s mind on an endorsement, now that Gov. Haley Barbour’s out of the race and Gov. Mitch Daniels looks increasingly unlikely to run. I guess we’ll see.

Moe Lane (crosspost)