Tim Pawlenty Left GOP Primary With Campaign In Debt

WASHINGTON -- Former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty's exit from the Republican primary was likely hastened by the fact that his presidential campaign was in debt, several sources tell The Huffington Post.

Pawlenty quit the race the day after a third-place finish in Iowa's Ames Straw Poll, a longtime benchmark for would-be Republican nominees. His early exit, announced in an interview with ABC's "This Week," surprised some. Pawlenty had pledged to soldier on after Ames the day before, calling the primary "a long process" that he was "just beginning."

But several Republican sources tell The Huffington Post that the former Minnesota governor was confronted by a far more intractable obstacle than leapfrogging the first two finishers -- Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann and Texas Rep. Ron Paul -- or facing the newest entrant to the field, Texas Gov. Rick Perry. Pawlenty, the sources say, was out of cash, his campaign having spent heavily in the lead-up to Ames, hoping for a better score than what he got.

It's not clear, however, how much debt Pawlenty has actually accrued. Requests for comment to former Pawlenty aides were declined.

One source suggested the campaign's debt was as high as $500,000, but another source with closer knowledge of the campaign deemed that figure far exaggerated. The official tally will be revealed on Oct. 15, when Pawlenty must deliver another filing to the Federal Election Commission.

The debt amassed by Pawlenty underscores the extent to which he and his advisers were banking on a strong finish in Ames, both to catapult the candidate up the polls and also to convince the Republican moneyed class to continue funding his candidacy.

Spending months, even years paying off campaign debt is an increasingly common practice. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton ended her 2008 primary bid millions in the red, and to this day she and her allies (including former President Bill Clinton) send out fundraising appeals urging supporters to help her retire the debt. Pawlenty, too, seems likely to have to continue to raise money after departing the race, though his network of donors is narrower than Hillary Clinton's.

This post has been updated with additional reporting

Comments

[billsbtx]

10:05 PM on 08/30/2011

All you "have nots" get ready, We will put Perry in office next year. Gota go now and check on the two Oil Wells there fracking on my ranch in south Texas that 6 generations ago my family started . If 230 years ago your forefathers didnt have the guts to venture west and stayed in NY to sell hot dogs then just reap what you sew, There are two types of people in this country, Leaders and followers,Hunters and gatherers. Just keep following BHO to your demise.

[Zed 0]

03:39 PM on 10/04/2011

Haha this post is funny. First of all, oil wells, in of themselves, do not frack, and people involved in the oil biz know simple industry terminology, so you're basically lying about that. Also, I highly doubt that someone like you owns a ranch, by the way you write. Your attempt to draw parallels between "leaders and followers" and "hunters and gatherers" is an utter failure, does not synch up well. Oh, and how's that "Perry in office" thing working out for you?

[arakuzi]

10:02 PM on 08/30/2011

They simple should outlaw all the bribing, or...contributions as they call it...nothing is for free and all the big contributors get their favors after all.......real citizens are the only ones always loosing.

[Bryn Collins]

09:57 PM on 08/30/2011

He apparently did the same thing to himself he did to MN - spent like a drunken sailor and then blamed the Democrats. Stunner ....not.

[hlma-1]

09:53 PM on 08/30/2011

It is just plain stupid that this is the way our election campaigns have to go. we need PUBLIC FINANCING OF ELECTIONS, with all other donations or solitications illegal, including corporate ones.

[rvheaney]

10:36 PM on 08/30/2011

You forgot Unions !

[gposner29]

09:51 PM on 08/30/2011

What a putz...none of these talking heads have a clue about handling money...

[mimsysc]

09:51 PM on 08/30/2011

He need not worry, didnt bother hills

[Mr Self Thinker]

09:51 PM on 08/30/2011

The GOP tipped it's hand way too early in the 'stop Obama at all cost' declaration.

The curtain has been pulled back, and the truth is in the wind about how dedicated they aren't to the American people. The give not one damn if we starve or hurt. They want to continue their "Executive order" assault on any and all help for the middle and lower economic classes by the ultra wealthy.

Please show up and vote. Be vocal and vote, be standing when you confront them at their rallies against the working class. We can stick it to them again if we are united.

Whether they can believe it or not - Their God is on our side, as is ours.

If Obama had a plan to provide everyone a $100k/yr job the Republicans
would oppose it.

What jobs legislation have the GOP introduced? Nothing.

The LAST THING Republicans' want is job and improved economy.

Everyday it is a new strategy to take us and the President down another peg.

If these leaders are those who are for us------someone please tell me who is it that is against us? "Many fired-up Republicans are already preparing to reject whatever the President puts on the table."

SOLUTION: Name the new jobs plan the "Baby Jaysus, American Flag, Shoot Em Up, Walker-Texas Ranger" bill.

The GOTeaP would be falling all over themselves passing the bill. AND, It's not like their well-educated constituens would even know the difference.

[Mr Self Thinker]

09:46 PM on 08/30/2011

WE ARE BROKE ,,WE ARE BROKE,,,,, THE REPUBLICANS CRY

,,,but not broke enough to collect taxes for revenue,,,, What we don’t need it or something??--cut spending to your Childs education,,,BUT DONT CUT TAX BREAKS FOR THE RICH

Cut grandma and grandpas living wage,,,BUT DONT CUT TAX BREAKS FOR THE RICH

Cut unemployment,,BUT DONT CUT TAX BREAKS FOR THE RICH

Cut health care for all Americans,,BUT DONT CUT TAX BREAKS FOR THE RICH

Brought to you by the REPUBLICAN PARTY now Republicans want to Deny disaster aid for Americans,,,

the rich will sit on their wealth until they are FORCED to invest it back into the country that they took it from OR BE TAXED TO DEATH ON IT

[TROP10]

09:45 PM on 08/30/2011

Gee... and he was so effervescent.....

[Mr Self Thinker]

09:43 PM on 08/30/2011

all the Republican losers and lunatics think they have a chance because of what their party is tolerating and espousing as "candidate material"! What a bunch of losers.....any Republican with only half a brain, a moronic ideology, and a microphone will be in the race! The Rep Convention next summer will be a shambles of outrageous planks of non-job creating issues, abortion reinvention, cuts to SS and Medicare and education, ignoring infrastructure, continuing the wars and telling us just how preventing the RICH from paying more taxes is a GOOD THING!!!

Oh, and let's not forget the quick passage in the Spring of continuance of oil subsidies....at the same time Congress wanted to cut unemployment compensation!!! Oh, yeah....gotta love the Republicans!! They think we won't remember all this!

[ftcpe74]

09:27 PM on 08/30/2011

I don't see anyone out there who can fix this country .dem or republican yet we still must vote for someone

[larryeart]

09:18 PM on 08/30/2011

Get back to "one-person, one-vote" instead of today's "one $$$dollar, one vote" where the rich BUY the politicians and dictate law.

[BIGTERRA]

09:27 PM on 08/30/2011

And don't forget all the union votes the democrats...especially Obama buys.

[larryeart]

09:43 PM on 08/30/2011

As I said: "one person -one vote" has not one thing to do with which party. It's called a principle. America was founded on such principles. Dont get party bashing into it. Both parties have lost principle of one person one vote.America took a turn further down the toilet when courts threw out campaign reform and let corporations buy politicans with hugh $$donations. Court-legalized-corruption.

[DON WOLF]

09:01 PM on 08/30/2011

WELL GOSH DARN IT - DON'T YOU LOVE THIS KIND OF STORY - IT PROVES NOBODY CAN BE PRESIDENT UNLESS THEY ARE RICH - SO I GUESS KIDS FORGET THAT DREAM OF BEING PRESIDENT - WHY YOU WANT ALL THAT CRAP FROM TEAPARTY IDIOTS ANYWAY - GET A GOOD COLLEGE DEGREE N APPLY FOR WELFARE - GODBLESS AMERICA - ONLY THE RICH WILL SURVIVE - LOL WOLFPOET

[oscgil]

04:25 PM on 08/30/2011

Just proof that Pawlenty does not deserve to be a 'publican; he cannot bring himself to spend like one. Neither Reagan nor Shrub dos had any qualms about beconing the biggest spenders in US history, for which my children and grandchildren and probably further will ultimately pay. Now they screech for a balanced budget amendment. Their hypocrisy knows no limits.

[Bryn Collins]

10:24 PM on 08/30/2011

You are apparently not a Minnesotan. Timmy took over a state with a $5 billion surplus and left us $5 billion in debt. He gave major tax breaks to his rich friends and then bragged about cutting education and social programs. He was a disaster for MN.

[CMarks]

12:27 PM on 08/30/2011

Newt is supposedly over a million in debt yet he continues his charade. Guess Mrs. Newt really, really, really wants to be the first lady. Probably to make up for being the third Mrs. Gingrich.