Tim Pawlenty & Rep Connie Mack Say Romney Won CNN/Tea Party Pres Debate

By Jayde Wyatt | September 13, 2011 - 5:27 AM | 2012 Election, Debate, Mitt Romney, Tim Pawlenty 1 views

Tim Pawlenty, National Co-Chair of the Romney campaign, issued a statement on Romney's GOP presidential debate performance in Tampa, FL last night, touting Romney's knowledge on job creation. 9/12/11

Tampa, FL – Romney for President National Co-Chair Governor Tim Pawlenty issued the following statement regarding tonight’s CNN/Tea Party debate in Tampa, Florida:

“Mitt Romney was the clear winner of tonight’s debate. His experience working in the real economy was evident tonight. No other candidate has the same knowledge of how jobs are created and what it will take for our economy to grow and for businesses to start hiring again. I am supporting him because I know that his experience and values are what the country needs to get on the right track.”

Boston, MA – Florida Representative Connie Mack made the following statement regarding tonight’s CNN/Tea Party debate in Tampa, FL:

“Mitt Romney clearly won the debate by laying out how he will get our economy
U.S. Rep Connie Mack (R-FL)
back on track. No other candidate in the field has his experience working in the real economy. Our next president will need that experience to turn around the economy. President Obama never worked in the real economy and look where we are today – with 25 million people unemployed, underemployed or have stopped looking for work. Mitt Romney has created tens of thousands of jobs both in the private sector and as Governor. President Obama has created none.”

“Our nominee must also oppose the dismantling of Social Security. It is a program millions of seniors rely on – and many of them in our state of Florida. Unlike Rick Perry, Mitt Romney does not want to destroy this program but has pledged to fix it for future generations.”

(emphasis added)

Debate transcript may be found here. (There are four sections; see right-hand column.)

► Jayde Wyatt

Romney Ready For CNN/Tea Party Presidential Debate in Florida

By Jayde Wyatt | September 12, 2011 - 2:35 PM | 2012 Election, Debate, Florida, Herman Cain, Jon Huntsman Jr., Michele Bachmann, Mitt Romney, Newt Gingrich, Rick Perry, Ron Paul, Tim Pawlenty 1 views

1 Comment

Here’s the low down on the show down in Tampa tonight…

The CNN/Tea Party GOP presidential debate begins tonight at 8:00 PM EST in Tampa, Florida. Wolf Blitzer (CNN) will moderate:

CNN and the Tea Party Express, along with more than 100 local tea party groups from every state across the country, will team up Monday, September 12 to present a first-of-its-kind debate from the site of the 2012 Republican National Convention: Tampa, Florida. Eight Republican presidential contenders will face questions from moderator and lead political anchor Wolf Blitzer during the two-hour event, which will air live on CNN from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. from the Florida State Fairgrounds. The debate will focus on a wide-range of topics, including the role, size and scope of government, with a specific emphasis on issue number one to tea party members and all Americans: the economy.

In addition to questions from Blitzer, audience members inside the debate hall, made up in part by members from tea party groups in 31 states and the District of Columbia, will be invited to ask questions directly to the candidates. Questions will also be taken live from tea party members at debate watch parties in Phoenix, Ariz.; Cincinnati, Ohio; and Portsmouth, Virginia. Online, CNN will solicit questions via comments on CNNPolitics.com, the CNN Politics Facebook page, and by using the #CNNTeaParty hashtag on Twitter.

(emphasis added)

Debate preparation preview:

Tim Pawlenty, Romney’s new National Campaign Co-Chair will be a guest of The Gov’s at tonight’s debate.

DEBATE OPTIONS:
TV
CNN – 8 PM EST- 10PM
CNN replay- 11 PM EST – 1:00 AM

LIVEstream:
Here and here
The debate will be available via live stream in the CNN Apps for iPhone, iPad and Android.

Expect a ROBUST exchange between Gov Romney and Rick Perry tonight. So, Mitt supporters, pop some corn, pop open your laptop, and pop in right here on MRC chat to join the fun when the debate begins!

Go get ‘em, Mitt!

► Jayde Wyatt

Gov Tim Pawlenty Endorses Mitt Romney, Named Natl Co-Chair

By Jayde Wyatt | September 12, 2011 - 6:20 AM | 2012 Election, Endorsements, Mitt Romney, Tim Pawlenty, Videos 1 views

6 Comments

Tim Pawlenty has endorsed Mitt Romney this morning. He has also been named National Co-Chair of Romney's campaign. Sept 12, 2011

HUGE NEWS!

Appearing on FOX & Friends this morning, Governor Tim Pawlenty gave a big announcement. *HE HAS ENDORSED MITT ROMNEY and will be his NATIONAL CO-CHAIR!

Business Insider

Former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty just endorsed former Mass. Gov. Mitt Romney in an interview on Fox News, revealing he will become co-chair of his former opponents campaign.

Pawlenty called Romney “the “complete package,” but specifically cited his leadership on the economy as the reason for his decision.

He added that Romney “doesn’t want to abolish or end” Social Security, but made the point that front-runner Texas Gov. does.
[...]

The prominent endorsement gives Romney more ammunition in his campaign to be seen as the more electable candidate — as the debate prepares to center, at least temporarily, on Social Security.

Politico

Former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty endorsed Mitt Romney for president Monday, praising his onetime rival for his “leadership ability” and the “depth and scope of [his] private-sector experience.”

“I believe he’s going to be our party’s nominee,” Pawlenty said on “Fox and Friends,” predicting Romney would be a “transformational and great president.”

Less than a month after ending his own White House bid, Pawlenty was in sync with the Romney campaign’s message on everything from jobs to health care, to Social Security and Rick Perry.

Asked how he could endorse a candidate who he once mocked as the author of “Obamneycare,” Pawlenty said he’d spoken about health care with Romney and concluded: “Mitt Romney is 100 percent dedicated and committed to repealing Obamacare.”

Defending Romney’s jobs record as governor of Massachusetts, Pawlenty said Romney had “great success when it comes to growing jobs and the economy,” citing his time in business and leading the Salt Lake City Oympics.

Pawlenty also joined the escalating back-and-forth between Romney and Rick Perry over entitlement programs, which Pawlenty said Perry may want to end.

“Gov. Romney wants to fix Social Security. He doesn’t want to abolish it or end it,” Pawlenty said. “Gov. Perry has said in the past that he thought it was ‘failed.’”

Pawlenty, who is joining the Romney campaign as a national co-chairman, said he wasn’t angling for any other job in giving Romney an early endorsement.

“I’m not going to consider being VP. I was down that path once before with John McCain,” he said. “That won’t be part of the future for me.”
[...]