Pawlenty calls Palin an 'outstanding pick'
Gov. Tim Pawlenty this morning praised the Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, Sen. John McCain's choice for a running mate.
"She's an executive, she's a reformer...and she is going to be a great leader for our country," Pawlenty said after his weekly radio show at the Minnesota State Fair.
Until this morning, Pawlenty and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney had been front runners in the Republican vice presidential race. Palin is expected to appear with McCain at a rally in Dayton, Ohio, later this morning.
Pawlenty said will continue working for McCain. He said McCain told him this morning, in a telephone call, that he was not the selection.
"It was a very positive, upbeat conversation," Pawlenty said.
As for the chatter about himself as a front runner, Pawlenty said it's "an honor to be considered."
Pawlenty said he was very pleased with Palin's selection.
"She has executive experience and as I said before, Senator Obama has not," Pawlenty said.
Pawlenty said he thinks Palin would appeal to women, especially disaffected female supporters of Hillary Clinton.
State Fair-goers also weighed in on McCain's choice of a running mate.
"I am disappointed. I thought he [Pawlenty] would be a very good choice," said Mary Milligan of Forest Lake. "He gets his point across and he's very personable."
"I think it makes sense from McCain's perspective," said Kristy Harms, of Lakeville, questioning if Pawlenty had enough national stature. "He's certainly a great Republican candidate. Maybe the time isn't right. Maybe next time."
Republican Congressman Jim Ramstad said he was "very disappointed, quite frankly."
"I went to bed last night thinking it was Gov. Pawlenty," Ramstad said, adding that he felt bad, just as he did when a high school friend was cut from a basketball team.
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