Pawlenty for President

Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty had his "coming out" before more than 500 Iowa Republicans Saturday night at the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines. He has been here before, of course. But in 2008, he was here as John McCain's sidekick and cheerleader in McCain's ill-fated presidential run, both in Iowa and in the U.S. This was his first Iowa visit as the main attraction. He told Iowans he is also from the heartland, he shares their values and he won't be afraid to use the word, God. He also went out of his way to praise his wife, and in doing so, became, I presume, the first possible presidential candidate to come to Iowa and quote Ricky Bobby from "Talladega Nights" (I'm told from a Minneapolis reporter, this is a line he has used often...what? A politician recycles an applause line from audience to audience?) This morning Pawlenty's Twitter account tweeted a behind-the-scenes-look at the event last night, which includes the joke about his wife. Watch it below, along with original. Can anyone really deliver it as well as Ricky Bobby?

One clip you won't see is what can happen when an out-of-state politician comes to town to do the obligatory praise of that state's politicians. Pawlenty mistakenly called Iowa Sec. of Ag Bill Northey, "Dave", and called State Auditor Dave Vaudt, Dave "Voyt". Oops. He did correct Vaudt's name. I bet Pawlenty will get another chance to get it right:)