How Tim Pawlenty could pull it off

Seven or eight years ago, while grocery shopping, I met an awesome girl named Cynthia. When I met Cynthia, she had a boyfriend, but as I got to know her a little better over the course of a few months, it seemed like she had some doubts about him. Even so, I never tried to undermine the boyfriend, or prey on Cynthia's doubts, or anything like that. Instead, Cynthia and I just carried on a standard email friendship--no in-person meetings, no phone calls, just friendly emails every two or three days.

Well, one day I got an email from Cynthia saying that she and the boyfriend were no longer together. She wanted to know, too, if I would like to get together for drinks.

Why am I telling you this story? Mainly because it makes me seem attractive and socially successful. But also because Mike Huckabee and Mitt Romney are the boyfriend, Cynthia is the Republican primary voter, and Tim Pawlenty is me.

Huh? 

Early in the Republican primary season, I think you'll see a big bloc of support coalescing around Mitt Romney, and another big bloc of support coalescing around a Christian conservative (could be Huckabee, if he runs, or maybe Rick Santorum, or possibly Sarah Palin, too, though I don't think she's running). This will shock a majority of the Republican primary electorate, who will start thinking, "Really? Mitt Romney and Mike Huckabee? Those are the choices? If we just keep going the way we're going, we're going to end up with one of those two guys? Ugh..." (Both candidates have obvious, serious flaws, but both have a core of support, too, so they should start out the primary season strong.)

At that point, I think nervous Republicans will start looking for an acceptable alternative...and I think Tim Pawlenty could very well be that alternative.

Pawlenty, like me, will have been hanging around, being all "Minnesota nice," being all gubernatorially competent, being all Sam's Clubby, just waiting for his chance.

And I think he'll probably get it.

Footnote: Whatever happened to Cynthia? After a few dates with me, she started seeing John Thune--or rather, started seeing another guy that I didn't even know was in the running...

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