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Pawlenty for President Exploratory Committee

A New Direction +
:35 web video released April 4, 2011 in response to Obama's annoucement of his re-election campaign.

[Ticking, sound, dramatic music] Obama (video clip): "...time to win the future..."

Pawlenty (voice over): I've got a question for you.  How can America win the future, when we're losing the present?

Female voice: You've got people and families out here in the United States that are struggling.

Man [Paul Krugman]: Washington has given up on the jobs...

Voices: It's staggering...  Can't pay their mortgage...  Home sales a record low...

Pawlenty (to camera): In order for America to take a new direction, [SFX] it's going to take a new president.


Notes: This frenetic video was released coinciding with President Obama's announcement of his re-election campaign.  It has thirty or more clips strung together, probably averaging a second or less each, and has the feel of a movie trailer.

The Iowa Democratic Party reponded with a press release "IDP Responds to Gloomy Pawlenty Video Release"

DES MOINES –In response to the video released today by Tim Pawlenty, which is in stark contrast to the Republican party of Reaganesque optimism of another era, Iowa Democratic Party Executive Director Norm Sterzenbach released the following statement:

“Nighttime in America” is a lousy idea for a bumper sticker and an even worse idea of leadership.  Given his record of debt and failure in Minnesota it’s not surprising that Tim Pawlenty has a gloomy and pessimistic outlook for our country and doesn’t think we can win the future.  The American people, on the other hand, don’t just believe we can win the future but that with the leadership of President Obama, we already are beginning to do so.”