Former Minnesota governor Tim Pawlenty made it official today: He's running for president in 2012.Pawlenty is seen as someone with a real chance at the Republican nomination. Let's take a look at his strengths and weaknesses.First, his strengths.Pawlenty spent eight years as governor of Minnesota, not exactly a Republican stronghold. That means he knows how to appeal to the all-important swing voter.
Pawlenty is a committed campaigner. He's already been to key early states like Iowa and New Hampshire multiple times and is building solid political organizations in each of those places too.
Pawlenty is a down-the-line conservative. With the exception of past support for cap and trade energy legislation, he wracked up a solidly conservative record even while governing Minnesota.
Now, his weaknesses.
Pawlenty is an unknown. Even though he has been stumping around early states for months, he's still not making much of a dent in national polls of the 2012 field.
Pawlenty isn't going to win any charisma contests. He's widely regarded as a nice guy but that might be enough to distinguish him in a crowded field.
Pawlenty's never done this before. Running for national office is no easy task and first time candidates tend to stumble as they get up to speed.
For Pawlenty to be a serious contender for the nomination, he probably needs to win the Iowa caucuses next year. Lucky for him, that seems like a real possibility at the moment.
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