Pawlenty markets McCain's energy plan, dodges VP question

Governor Tim Pawlenty stood in front a row of gas pumps in Bloomington Thursday to talk up John McCain's energy plan, and to rip on McCain's Democratic opponent Barack Obama.

And while the McCain campaign picked the Bobby & Steve's Auto World in Bloomington as a dramatic backdrop, the true drama for many political reporters involves speculation over Pawlenty's odds of becoming the Arizona senator's running mate.

It's a game Pawlenty says he's simply not going to play anymore.

"I'm honored to have my name mentioned," he told reporters, "I had to stop engaging in the speculation, because I think it is largely speculation and it just fuels more speculation."

It's not as though Pawlenty would be the one to make the announcement if he were to join the ticket, or that he'd pick a gas station in Bloomington to finally reveal something that would qualify as the political scoop of the year.

And yet, ever since he earned "short list" status, the question has followed him everywhere he goes. And his recent appearances on network news shows and cable talk shows as a McCain surrogate has certainly thrown logs on that fire.

Gas Tax Holiday? Wearing his other hat as national co-chair of the McCain presidential campaign Pawlenty sharply criticized the likely Democratic nominee, Senator Barack Obama, for not the idea of a federal gas tax holiday.

"Senator McCain has called for a temporary gas tax holiday to provide at least some immediate relief for Minnesotans and Americans as they face these historic and burdensome gasoline prices," Pawlenty said, "And Senator Obama has said no to that idea."

"Senator Obama's statement about his campaign is 'Yes We Can' when it comes to gas prices and energy prices his slogan should be 'No, we can't'."

The director of Senator Obama's Minnesota campaign, Jeff Blodgett, told reporters he was surprised to hear the Governor defend the gas tax holiday idea.

"Today Governor Pawlenty became John McCain's number one attack dog instead of standing up for the state of Minnesota," Blodgett remarked, "The gas tax holiday gimmick that Senator McCain has put forward is a disaster for Minnesota, and the governor should know better than to defend it."

"It means the loss of more than $113 million in funds for highways and bridges and infrastructure, and also the loss of 4,000 jobs."

Supporters of the gas tax holiday have proposed replacing that loss highway user fee with money from the general budget, but with the nation's coffers already bleeding red ink the idea has drawn criticism.

The federal fuel tax is 18.3 cents per gallon. But, given the way gas prices fluctuate, some experts predict even if that tax were removed prices would just rise to fill that gap.

"Republican Governor Schwarzenegger really said it best," Blodgett said, "That it really offers no relief at the gas pump and it's really disingenuous to say that it will."

McCain's campaign fired back Thursday night with a news release pointing out that Obama, eight years ago as an Illinois state senator, voted in favor of lifting that state's 5 percent sales tax on gasoline for 60 days.

Dogged by VP question

At the service station news conference reporters put the question to him in every conceivable way, and at least a dozen times Pawlenty responded with some version of the phrase "no longer engaging in discussion or speculation" about it.

Recent New York Times articles suggested former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney is rising in the McCain veepstakes, because the men have grown closer personally since the days of the GOP primaries.

But the Pawlenty buzz ramped up again this week amid reports that McCain told party insiders at a fundraiser that they'll "like Tim Pawlenty."

Whether the politician known to his most ardent supporters as "T-Paw" will take on the nickname of "V-Paw" doesn't seem to be an issue for those running the Obama campaign in Minnesota.

"Whether he's on the ticket or not really doesn't matter," Jeff Blodgett said Thursday, "We expect a tough race in Minnesota, and a close one, and we're going to win it."

A new opinion poll of likely voters, done by Qinnipiac University in Connecticut, showed McCain rapidly closing in on Obama in Minnesota in the past month. The gap had gone from a 17 point lead for the Illinois senator to only a two point edge.

Blodgett asserted Obama will prevail here in the end.

"Minnesotans are looking for a president who has fresh ideas, who's going to move the country forward in terms of energy independence, the economy, and in national security and that's what Barack Obama offers."

Energy battle

Pawlenty, as chair of the National Governor's Association, made renewable energy the group's marquee issue. He's been a proponent of ethanol, bio-fuels and moving to plug-in electric vehicles.

But, at Thursday's news conference, he aimed his harshest criticism at Obama for not supporting McCain's "Lexington Project" plan, which includes accelerated off-shore drilling and building 40 more nuclear power plants.

"Senator Obama is taking a no, or go-slow approach," Pawlenty said, "Senator McCain realizes we have a crisis and that Minnesotans and Americans are being pinched and squeezed by these energy prices as they fill up their gas tanks."

Blodgett again dismissed the call for drilling as a side show, something that would have no real effect on prices at the pump.

"Drilling off our shores really doesn't do anything in terms of lowering gas prices," he said, "It's distraction from the real solutions to energy independence Senator Obama is seeking."

Many Democratic candidates have said oil companies should make use of the millions of acres in leases they already hold.

"What we need is a comprehensive plan for higher mileage standards for cars," Blodgett said, "Renewable energy standards for states and massive investment in alternative fuels."

Many analysts predict it would take at least 10 years for new off-shore drilling areas to yield fruit, and even then the crude oil extracted would be sold on the world market to the highest bidders and not necessarily change the dynamics in the United States.

But with consumers stressed over high prices at the pump, and already being warned to expect huge leaps in home heating bills this winter, the energy crisis will remain and an irresistibly hot topic in most political races.

By John Croman, KARE 11 News

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