Pawlenty Ignores Brown Valley Flood Victims to Campaign with McCain

03/15/2007

(ST. PAUL) 3/15/07 – Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty campaigned today for Republican presidential candidate Sen. John McCain in Iowa. Pawlenty touted McCain on morning radio and at three scheduled public appearances. Pawlenty campaigned out-of-state as parts of western Minnesota flooded and local officials sought disaster relief. Minnesota DFL Chair Brian Melendez released the following statement:

“The governor is once again putting his national ambitions ahead of Minnesotans’ interests. Western Minnesota is flooding and local officials are seeking disaster relief, but Governor Pawlenty is spending his time campaigning for a struggling presidential candidate in Iowa.

“Just a few short months ago, Minnesotans entrusted him with a second term and already they are running a distant second behind prime-time presidential politics. Governor Pawlenty needs to seriously rethink where his loyalties and priorities lie.”