Testing the 2012 ground, Pawlenty, Pence court conservatives

[Emit]

Gonna go out on a limb here and say, after watching him at CPAC, Pence may be the favored Repug in 2012:

WASHINGTON (AP) — Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty and Indiana Rep. Mike Pence, two possible 2012 presidential candidates, called for a return to conservative principles before a critical constituency Friday, while Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour wouldn't rule out a White House bid of his own.

~snip~

Earlier Friday across town, Pawlenty and Pence were the latest Republicans weighing candidacies to speak to the annual gathering of thousands of conservative activists and leaders who are important players in the GOP base. ...

~snip~

Romney, who brought along his state's new Republican senator Scott Brown to introduce him, delivered an impassioned defense of conservatism and indictment of President Barack Obama's first year to a cheering and chanting crowd. It was standing-room only for his mid-afternoon speech. His would-be campaign staff was on hand.

The reception for Pawlenty's midmorning speech a day later was more muted. He received a standing ovation and polite applause. The ballroom was just partially filled; there were empty seats throughout, though that could have been because of the hour. He, too, had aides nearby who are helping him lay the groundwork for a possible run.

~snip~

In contrast to Pawlenty, Pence delivered a robust speech that this partisan crowd ate up. It was filled with criticism of Obama and lines tailor-made for the GOP's right wing, including a pitch to "defend life."

"Conservative Republicans are back and we're in the fight for fiscal discipline. We're on the side of the American people," he declared.

Pence, too, took Obama to task, earning thundering applause throughout.

"The job of the American president is not to manage American decline. The job of the American president is to reverse it," Pence said, nearly yelling. "Get government out of control, get government out of the way and America will come roaring back!"

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/politics/wire/sns-ap-us-conservatives-2012,0,2218146.story

[Zoeisright]

1. If that little asshole Pawlenty thinks he's running

I am personally going to follow him all over the country with a sign bearing a huge picture of the collapsed 35W bridge that says 'Is this what you want your country to look like? Then vote for this tool.'