Pawlenty in town, promises to speak ‘hard truth’ – Tbo.com
TAMPA –
On the first official day of his presidential campaign, former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty is currying potential supporters in Tampa and marking off Florida as ground zero in the coming debate over Social Security and Medicare.
“I’m going to Florida to tell both young people and seniors the truth that our entitlement programs are on an unsustainable path and that inaction is no longer an option,” Pawlenty said in his announcement today in Des Moines, Iowa.
He plans two “friendraiser” events in Tampa this evening, a reception at a South Tampa restaurant sponsored by surgeon A.K. Desai, and a dinner at the Beach Park home of a supporter, Republican fundraiser and lawyer Martin Garcia, said Phil Handy of Winter Haven, Pawlenty’s state chairman.
The events are aimed primarily at letting local Republican Party leaders and GOP fundraises hear him talk and evaluate him as a candidate, but will also bring in some campaign cash.
Pawlenty will raise the entitlement issue in a Facebook town hall Tuesday, while attending similar meet-and-greet functions and raising money in South Florida, Handy said.
In his speech, Pawlenty said he intended to campaign by telling Americans “the hard truth,” which he said politicians including President Barack Obama have avoided.
For example, he said, he intends to say in Iowa appearances that the nation’s corn-based ethanol program, dear to the hearts of Iowa farmers, must be phased out.
Another, he said, is that the costs of Social Security and Medicare must be reduced.
He outlined several steps for changes in the two popular programs but stopped short of the most drastic change recommended by Republican reform advocates. He didn’t mention Rep. Paul Ryan’s proposal to change Medicare into a voucher program under which elderly people would buy private health insurance.
Instead, he advocated “pay for performance incentives that reward good doctors and wise consumers,” changes recommended in Washington by Congress members of both parties, including Rep. Kathy Castor, D-Tampa.
On Social Security, he said, “I’ll tell young people the truth that over time and for them only, we’re going to gradually raise their Social Security retirement age.
“And, I’ll also tell the truth to wealthy seniors that we will means test Social Security’s annual cost-of-living adjustment.”
Pawlenty didn’t advocate an idea once proposed unsuccessfully by former President George W. Bush, diverting Social Security tax revenue for private retirement accounts, or partial privatization.
The Social Security retirement age is already being raised gradually, and will hit 67 by 2027. Some Republicans have advocated accelerating the increase to reach age 70.
Handy said the Florida events were planned starting some time ago but took on increased importance when Pawlenty scheduled his announcement for today.
Asked whether it means Pawlenty is adopting a Florida-intensive strategy, he said, “I hope so. Florida’s an important state. In 2008 it was vitally important and it will be again.”
Pawlenty’s speech and Florida visit suggest he intends to make Florida an important part of his strategy in the primary, in which he must overtake the candidate many political experts are now calling the frontrunner, Mitt Romney.
Romney is way ahead of the GOP field in fundraising, and his unsuccessrul 2008 race has given him an advantage in name recognition.
Pawlenty could face a critical test in Florida as early as September, when the state Republican Party will hold a straw poll at its state convention, Presidency 5.
The event could prove beneficial to a candidate like Pawlenty who’s seeking to overtake a frontrunner because it’s designed to favor a candidate who can organize backing among party activists rather than one who spends heavily on advertising.
But Handy said the campaign doesn’t have any plans yet for Presidency 5.
He acknowledged that for many party activists, today’s and tomorrow’s events may be their first good look at Pawlenty.
Many of those at the events are still undecided.
Prominent GOP fundraiser Nancy Watkins, who plans to attend both events, supported Romney in 2008 but is still making up her mind this year and said she’s “keeping a very open mind.”
“I was very impressed with Jon Huntsman,” who held a meet-and-greet in St. Petersburg two weeks ago, “and I still hold Mitt Romney, in very high regard,” she said. “I look forward to seeing Tim Pawlenty again and hearing what he has to say.”
Tampa developer and GOP stalwart Dick Beard, attending the Garcia event, said he’s still undecided, and that the number of potential candidates waiting on the sidelines or dropping out has many Republicans confused about their choices — “The country’s uncertain who’s really in or out.”
Even the sponsor of one of today’s events, Desai, said he’s not committed yet in the race. “I’m doing it as a friend,” he said.
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