Speculation is flying that this could be the week former Republican Governor Tim Pawlenty jumps into the race for governor in 2018, seeking a third non-consecutive term. Hamline University analyst David Schultz says Pawlenty would be entering the contest late — a month-and-a-half after precinct caucuses. “He has to do something when he comes in to basically clear the field, so that he doesn’t face a serious challenge at the convention, wins enough votes over,” says Schultz. One strategy: “Let’s say if Tim Pawlenty were to enter the race and, on the day he declares he says, I’m entering the race and by the way I’ve got two million, I got three million or four million dollars in the bank right now to start the race, I think that’s one way to do it.”
Schultz argues the G-O-P endorsement is Pawlenty’s to win because Republicans currently don’t have a candidate with strong or deep support within their party.
More in this interview with MNN’s Bill Werner: