Looking for the other 53 percent
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How else to read Gov. Tim Pawlenty's call to extend health insurance to all Minnesota children?
The governor didn't give any details about how he would pay for such an initiative or how it would work, but clearly it's an attempt to reach out to the new DFL majority in the Legislature, many of whom called for a similar effort during their campaigns.
It's a big turn around for the governor who called for cuts in state-subsidized health insurance to balance the budget. The DFL-controlled Senate has made similar proposals the past few years only to have Pawlenty and the GOP-controlled House reject them.
While the suggestion might appeal to some of the 53 percent of Minnesotans who did not vote for the governor last week, you have to wonder what many of the 47 percent who did vote for him will think of it.
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And some will no doubt cast it in the light of Pawlenty's potential as a candidate on a national ticket.
MPR's Gary Eichten asked former DFL Congressman Tim Penny about Pawlenty's national prospects on Tuesday's Midday program. Penny, who lost to Pawlenty as the IP gubernatorial candidate four years ago, had a cutting response.
"I think he's got to earn that. He hasn't earned it yet. First of all this is the second time in a row he's been elected without a majority of the support in this state. The first thing you look for in a running mate is a running mate that can deliver the state they're from, so I don't think that puts him on anybody's short list. He also has lost ground for his party in this state. He's been sort of the premier image or face of the Republican Party in Minnesota for four years, and they lost 13 seats in the state Legislature two years ago, lost control of the Legislature by huge margins this time around, lost his fellow Republicans down the ballot in the auditor's job secretary of state's job. You know, that doesn't shout,' hey, I'm a leader that people can rally behind.'"
