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Pawlenty had an afternoon of interviews with local broadcasters at the fair. He spoke of his work campaigning for the GOP presidential nominee-in-waiting and the upcoming Republican National Convention in St. Paul.
When asked about his chances of being picked by McCain, Pawlenty said, “It’s an honor to have your name mentioned, or something like that.” But he said he wouldn’t talk about the vice presidency.
Asked by KTIS-FM radio host Dave Clutter whether he had any announcements, Pawlenty joked: “I’m going to be vice president ... of my fantasy football league.”
Pawlenty repeated the same joke in an interview with KARE-TV.
Pawlenty and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney are believed to be under the most serious consideration to be tapped by McCain.
Pawlenty drew a 55 percent approval rating in a recent statewide poll, and he was clearly popular at the fair as he walked the grounds with his security detail and media in tow. Several people stopped to say hello or get their pictures taken with him.
Mark Miller, 41, of Minnetonka, and Mike Langlie, 36, of Brooklyn Park, smoked cigars and had front-row seats for Pawlenty’s appearance on KSTP-AM.
Miller said he has voted for Pawlenty in the past two elections and that the governor would be a good choice for McCain’s ticket.
“The VP choice is very different and ... the media likes to make their predictions,” he said. “No matter who McCain chooses, it’s going to be a good choice.”
Langlie added that he wouldn’t base his vote on who’s the vice presidential candidate.
Pawlenty talked to 12-year-old Katie Glader and her 11-year-old sister, Becky, of New Brighton, and asked them what they had to eat at the fair, and if they were ready for school to start next week.
“I was nervous because he’s so important,” Becky Glader said. When asked if the girls thought Pawlenty would make a good vice president, Katie Glader said yes.
“I think Minnesota’s good,” she said. “Minnesota’s good people.”
The girls’ mother, Carol Glader, 49, said she likes what Pawlenty has done for Minnesota and she thinks he has good conservative values.
Pawlenty said he is scheduled to be in Minnesota on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, and he’s scheduled to do his weekly radio show from the State Fair on Friday, around when McCain is expected to make his VP announcement.
Pawlenty planned to fly Wednesday night to Denver, where Democrats are holding their national convention. He said he was going to provide some balance to the Democrats’ message and to tout McCain’s experience and his record of working across party lines.
“Obviously this is the week that the Democrats are going to get the bulk of the attention, but we’re hoping that we can at least get a little time to share Sen. McCain’s perspective by way of rebuttal.”
Pawlenty said he’s due back in Minnesota tonight, and he’ll start gearing up for the Republican National Convention, which starts in St. Paul on Monday.
“It’s a great opportunity for Minnesota to showcase our state and our people and our amenities and why this is such a wonderful state,” he said. “But it’s a big undertaking and we want it to go well.”
