Pawlenty to get a boost from Karl Rove

03/31/2005

Dane Smith, Star Tribune
March 31, 2005

Karl Rove, President Bush’s top political adviser and a favorite headliner among Republican activists, will be the main celebrity and speaker at an April 8 fundraiser for Gov. Tim Pawlenty’s 2006 reelection campaign at the Minneapolis Convention Center.

Rove’s appearance could have the dual effect of maximizing contributions at the event while also feeding speculation that Pawlenty could be among the GOP’s presidential or vice-presidential prospects in 2008.

“This is a coup for the governor,” said Minnesota Republican Party chairman Ron Eibensteiner. “I am absolutely delighted.” Eibensteiner said that he had invited Rove “a long time ago” to appear at a state party organization fundraiser, but that Rove said he preferred to help Pawlenty’s campaign specifically.

“That’s rather interesting,” Eibensteiner said. “Obviously the White House has a very high opinion of our governor.” Rove, recently appointed deputy White House chief of staff for policy, generally is given much of the credit for Bush’s election and reelection. He is considered perhaps the most important influence on Bush’s domestic priorities, such as a gay marriage ban and a proposed Social Security overhaul.

“This is a kind of acknowledgment that Tim Pawlenty is ready for prime time,” said University of Minnesota political science Prof. Larry Jacobs, who coordinated a special presidential election study project last fall.

“Conservative insiders will notice this. ... It may show that he [Rove] is thinking past 2008 himself. He may not want to leave the political scene and he may be looking for the next horse.”

Pawlenty has strongly denied that he has any current interest in higher office, avowing that his only concern right now is performing well as governor and running for reelection. His aides say he is doing nothing to prepare for a White House course, such as traveling to Iowa or New Hampshire. Pawlenty also does not unequivocally rule out that he might be interested in the future.

Pawlenty has been left out of recent media reports and political website chatter about who has been stirring around in bellwether states such as Iowa or New Hampshire. But he has been listed, sometimes in the top echelon of prospects, in some Republican weblogs and websites, especially those of social and cultural conservatives.

DFL Party officials have picked up on the buzz and are beginning to ask whether Pawlenty intends to finish a second term, if reelected.

“Maybe Rove’s the guy that Pawlenty wants to run his presidential campaign,” said Bill Amberg, the DFL Party’s communications director. “But obviously the governor has a lot of more important work to do here in Minnesota. ... We hope he focuses more of his time on governing and less on politicking.”

Pawlenty’s office declined to comment on the Rove visit, referring inquiries to Eibensteiner.