Tim Pawlenty Regrets Swift Exit From 2012 GOP Primary Race

ST. PAUL, Minn. -- Former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty says he might have stayed in the Republican presidential race longer had he known it would be this volatile.

Pawlenty reflected on his decision to drop out after his official state portrait was unveiled Monday night. He left the race in August after finishing third in the Iowa GOP's straw poll in which he says he invested heavily.

Pawlenty says he would have persisted in the race "if I would have known then what I know now." He says his campaign was in debt and lacked, in his words, "additional chips to see the next card in the hand."

He has endorsed former rival Mitt Romney in the race. He says he is pursuing private-sector career options but won't rule out a future political run.

 

 

Comments

[Paulo Anozie]

04:14 PM on 11/29/2011

Polenty is chicken! Had he had confidence in himself he would have benefited from this GOP free fall. He made a fool of himself when he coined Obamneycare and chickened out when he faced Romney. People without backbone should not come out in public and mess themselves up. How did he become governor? Just like that mooron from Texas called Perry who cannot express himself in English language. Oh! they are Republicans ( less substance) who cannot be REAL!

[jgmambo]

08:49 PM on 10/12/2011

Palewnty: No guts , no way.

[Mason Wirsig]

07:22 PM on 10/12/2011

Tim Pawlenty never would have had my primary vote (Ron Paul/Herman Cain 2012), but he was the only one that made the Republican debates worth watching.

[lw1]

12:42 AM on 10/14/2011

Better start working on a new indie party.

[Mithrall]

05:34 PM on 10/12/2011

Well when you're running second to Michelle Bachmann from the same state...

[babyboomernina]

04:38 PM on 10/12/2011

Just go away!

[Uffy32]

04:25 PM on 10/12/2011

He thought he might emerge as a VP candidate for Romney; but Romney's new best friend is Christie...

[Paulo Anozie]

04:20 PM on 11/29/2011

YES! He must be an idiot to have that thinking. He faced Romney and urinated on himself. He froze and could not altar Obmneycare. Only in the Republican party will he come out again and win any thing. Party full of dummies.

[TexianLife]

03:11 PM on 10/12/2011

He's a QUITTER, like Palin

[Gray Mouser]

03:10 PM on 10/12/2011

Simply another view into his crackerjack decision-making capabilities. Clearly.

He was wise to drop out.

[middleoftheroad]

02:09 PM on 10/12/2011

T-Paw should not live with a shoulda/coulda/woulda over his head...he was never going to get the nomination.

[trumbull desi]

02:09 PM on 10/12/2011

Pawlenty. Pawlenty. Hmmmm ... where have I heard that name before?

[JoanMeijer]

12:26 PM on 10/12/2011

Since he's a kind of Scott Walker redux I'm sure he's the only one (well maybe his wife and kids) who does regret dropping out. I think those midwestern governors are setting the standard for - we're voting Democrat next time guys.

[Omentum]

11:49 AM on 10/12/2011

YOU JUST RUINED IT T-PAW.

I was beginning to think you were good decision maker.

[So silly]

09:19 AM on 10/12/2011

I know how he feels. I too considered running for the Republican nomination but dropped out when I realized I wasn't the right person for the job. He should call Palin, she can talk him through this difficult time.

[Michael Willhoite]

08:58 AM on 10/12/2011

Gosh, Mr. Excitement, we sure miss you. (Yaaaaaaaawwwwwnnnnn)

[Adrian Keys]

11:46 PM on 10/12/2011

Spot on!

[spc5]

05:36 AM on 10/12/2011

He did not know that the field was weak?

[Waiting for Something]

07:42 AM on 10/12/2011

That's because his brain is weak.