Tim Pawlenty ended his campaign for president on Sunday morning following a poor performance in the Iowa Straw Poll on Saturday evening. Initially the campaign said it would forge ahead despite coming in a distant third to Michele Bachmann and Ron Paul, but on ABC’s This Week, Pawlenty made the announcement that his campaign was over. Almost immediately, however, high ranking GOP officials began suggesting Pawlenty take on Sen. Amy Klobuchar in 2012.
“We needed to get some lift to continue on and to have a pathway forward. That didn’t happen. So I’m announcing this morning on your show that I’m going to be ending my campaign for president,” Pawlenty said. “But I’m very, very grateful for the people of Iowa, the people of this country, who I had a chance to make my case to, and for my supporters and staff and friends who’ve been so loyal and helpful. I really appreciate all of them.”
“I wish it would have been different,” he added. “But, obviously, the pathway forward for me doesn’t really exist. And so we’re going to end the campaign.”
Already, pundits were guessing what would come next for Pawlenty.
Republican Party of Minnesota chair Tony Sutton told WCCO’s Esme Murphy on Sunday morning that he would be approaching Pawlenty to run against Klobuchar.
“I think he’d be great candidate against Amy Klobuchar,” said Sutton. “I think candidate like Tim Pawlenty would be very exciting.”
Sutton said he’d wait a few days but would be approaching Pawlenty about running.
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