1:30 PM, Jul 23, 2011
Tim Pawlenty, former governor of Minnesota, speaks at a NRA rally in Searsboro, Iowa. (Josh Hafner/The Register)
Tim Pawlenty had one central statement for arms advocates at a Iowa National Rifle Association rally:
“I got a message for President Obama: I love God. I love America. And I love the Second Amendment.”
Speaking to a crowd at an outdoor shooting range with a NRA baseball cap on, Pawlenty marked his second gun-related appearance in the state this week. On Wednesday, he shot targets with a 9mm pistol at a Madrid shooting range.
Pawlenty didn’t shoot a gun on Saturday, but did have his crosshairs set firmly on Obama. His words centered on the U.S. president’s infamous quote during his 2008 campaign:
“The current president of the United States, Barack Obama, stood in San Francisco, California not too long ago when he wanted to be our president, and he ridiculed small-town America and he said essentially that they’re fearful or that they’re worrisome. He said they quote ‘Cling to God and their guns.’ He was making fun of us.”
Wrapping up the brief four-minute speech, Pawlenty said he was the only governor to ever sign conceal and carry legislation twice. He also used an illustration from his stump speeches, saying that more people have died from the light-rail train in downtown Minneapolis than from Minnesota permit holders.
Pawlenty’s stated support for God and guns comes two days after he told a Webster City crowd that Jesus Christ was one of his “political heroes,” and less than two weeks after the launch of PawlentyFaith.com, a website highlighting his Christian faith alongside links to register for the Ames straw poll, an early candidate test.
After trailing behind Tea Party maven Michele Bachmann in The Des Moines Register poll and others, Pawlenty’s emphasis on faith and arms displays a timely reach toward socially-conservative Iowans just weeks before the Ames poll on August 13.
Calling the right to bear arms “one of the pillars of our country,” Pawlenty said he would “unequivocally, unabashedly, strongly, always and forever stand and defend the second amendment.”
In an interview with The Des Moines Register, he underlined his motivation behind the stop:
“I wanted to make [my support] unequivocally clear not only to the attendees here today but to all of Iowa and all of America.”
The former Minnesota governor doesn’t yet have a conceal and carry permit, but said he does own multiple weapons.
GOP presidential hopeful Tim Pawlenty fires a Glock 9mm at the residence of NRA handgun instructor James Egeland near Madrid, Iowa, on Wednesday, July 20, 2011. At the rear is Gov. Pawlenty's brother, Dan. (Rodney White/the Register)
Though Pawlenty was the only candidate appearing at the Iowa Firearms Coalition’s Second Amendment Rally in Searsboro, the presence of other GOP contenders was felt. Surrounding the audience listening to Pawlenty’s speech were campaign tables for Bachmann and Texas Rep. Ron Paul. Texas Gov. Rick Perry and Sarah Palin also had tables hosted by unaffiliated supporters. All table workers said their supported candidate was strong on gun rights.
Though Bachmann and Perry weren’t at the rally, they were on the mind of Des Moines insurance worker Dede Donahue during Pawlenty’s speech.
“He said a lot of things to the crowd that we wanted to hear, but I think he actually belives them,” she said, adding, “Actually, I like Rick Perry. Not just on the second Amendment issue, but on the economy too. And Michele Bachmann.”
Ted Mathews, an Iowa State student and NRA member, liked Pawlenty’s speech, but said a candidate’s strong support of the Second Amendment wasn’t ultimately a deal-breaker.
“If he wasn’t extremely actively pursing the expansion of my rights, but he was still fixing the budget, I wouldn’t have too much of a problem with that,” he said.
Benjy Sarlin | July 22, 2011, 2:37PM
God, Guns, And Hockey: Pawlenty Attacks Iowa From All Angles
Benjy Sarlin | July 22, 2011, 2:37PM
Tim Pawlenty's presidential dreams are on the line in Iowa, where the candidate has struggled to find his footing since launching his campaign. Now, with the Ames Straw Poll only weeks away, the candidate is relaunching with a new message and a major push to regain momentum before it's too late.
Pawlenty put a reported $1 million into organizing for Ames, a major sum when you consider he raised $4.2 million over the entire last quarter. While Pawlenty's aides have consistently lowered expectations, saying even finishing above sixth or seventh might be progress, the resources dedicated to the straw poll clearly indicate that the campaign is banking on an impressive showing. Indeed, Pawlenty recently expressed the hope that after a fair Ames Poll showing "you'll see our campaign make very good progress between kind of back-of-the-pack status to something closer to front-of-the-pack status." As a tune up, Pawlenty ran away with the much smaller Dallas County "jar poll" at their local fair.
The candidate has retooled with a new message as well, portraying himself as a tough underdog who can't be counted out. His latest ad,"American Comeback," features footage from the 1980 "Miracle on Ice" US hockey team (Pawlenty often cites his own enthusiasm for the game).
The hockey image also complements Pawlenty's sometimes awkward efforts to convey a tougher persona. He's been arguably the most active candidate on offense, repeatedly going after rival Michele Bachmann's thin legislative record and recently telling Iowans that their credibility as the first-in-the-nation caucus could suffer if they pick a candidate with little chance of winning the presidency. But he also stumbled by suggesting Bachmann's migraines were a legitimate issue and pointing out presidents need to do their job "all of the time" only to walk back his remarks and dismiss the entire issue as a "sideshow."
In addition to his broader come-from-behind reboot, Pawlenty's upped his game in courting religious and socially conservative voters, a group that's disproportionately active in Iowa's GOP caucuses and has been a boon to Bachmann thus far. Recently Pawlenty released a video discussing his faith with his wife and told a voter that he counted Jesus among his favorite "political heroes." He also showcased his 2nd Amendment cred by firing a Glock 9 mm at a range this week and will later attend a rally of gun rights activists.
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