Capitol View®

Robert Novak says recent election helps Pawlenty in ’08

Here's what he wrote in his column:

Tim Pawlenty: The Republican governor of Minnesota survived the Democratic high tide against a serious and well-funded opponent. He is a McCain ally, but a conservative, a winner in a blue-purple state, and a Midwesterner. That is a winning formula for future Republican presidential candidates. The GOP convention just happens to be scheduled for his town in 2008. Like all other conservatives, he benefits from the defeat of Sen. George Allen (R-Va.), which narrows the competition for the conservative vote. Even if he's not ready for the big game yet, he's vice-presidential material. If McCain bows out of the race, he could get backing from him and from many conservatives as well.