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Pawlenty In Florida Campaigning For McCain

ST. PAUL (WCCO) ―

Gov. Tim Pawlenty is in Florida for the weekend, campaigning for Republican presidential candidate John McCain.

Pawlenty's support may be helping McCain when it comes to winning in Minnesota.  In a Survey USA poll of 550 registered voters out this week, McCain would beat Hillary Clinton in a Minnesota match-up 49 to 45 percent. The margin of error in the poll is plus or minus 4 points.

In a head-to-head match-up with Barack Obama, Obama comes out on top, 50 to 44 percent.

Pawlenty's been on the John McCain bandwagon from the beginning.  He's made numerous campaign appearances on McCain's behalf in the last year.

In just five weeks, Pawlenty will have made four important campaign trips for McCain. He went to New Hampshire Dec. 29 and 30, Iowa on Jan. 3, Michigan on Jan. 11 and 12 and now Florida.

Coming off wins in New Hampshire and South Carolina, McCain's calling all hands on deck and is getting certain Republicans to give him a second look.

"Governor Pawlenty is helping him to bring in Republican voters, particularly the younger Republican voters that are up for grabs and don't have an axe to grind with John McCain because he did not vote for all of the president's tax cuts," said Larry Jacobs with the HHH Institute of Public Affairs.

For some, the governor's heavy campaign schedule begs the big question: what's he running for?

Despite persistent and repeated rumors that he's on the short list for vice president on a McCain ticket, Pawlenty said he intends to complete his term as chief executive in Minnesota.

As for who pays for the trips, it's Pawlenty's time on McCain's dime.  The state of Minnesota does not in any way pay for Pawlenty's political travel.  All expenses are picked up by the McCain for President Campaign.

 

(© MMVIII, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

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