Reactions to Gov. Tim Pawlenty's Decision
to End His Campaign
candidates' reactions in
order received, first at top
Jon Huntsman Statement
on Tim Pawlenty Leaving Race
Orlando - Governor Jon Huntsman issued the following
statement about Tim Pawlenty leaving the presidential race.
"Tim Pawlenty is an accomplished Governor, a proud conservative,
and someone of tremendous character. Our families became close while we
were serving together as governors and we are honored to call the
Pawlentys dear friends. I know this wasn't an easy decision for Tim and
Mary, and I wish them nothing but the best.
"Tim should be proud that he brought to this race ambitious solutions
to turn around our nation's economy and to tackle debt and spending. I
hope that all of his supporters continue to stay engaged in this
defining election and work with us to ensure that our party wins in
November."
MITT
ROMNEY: TIM PAWLENTY RAN HONORABLE CAMPAIGN
Boston, MA
– Today Mitt Romney issued the following statement on Tim Pawlenty
leaving the race for the Republican nomination:
“Tim
Pawlenty and his entire team ran an honorable campaign. I admire his
accomplishments as a two term Governor with a record of results for his
state. I consider him a friend and I know he has a bright future ahead
of him as a leader in the Republican Party.”
Bachmann
Comments
on
Pawlenty's
Decision
to Withdraw from the Race for the GOP Nomination
Ames, Iowa
-
Republican presidential candidate Michele Bachmann has issued the
following statement in response to Governor Tim Pawlenty's decision to
drop out of
the race for the Republican nomination for president:
“This morning I spoke with Governor Pawlenty to express my respect and
admiration for him, and to wish him and his family well. Running
for the presidency requires enormous self-sacrifice. Governor Pawlenty
brought an important voice and ideas to the campaign, and he served the
people
of Minnesota and our country well. Our party and our country are better
as a result of his service and commitment.”
Statement by Gov. Rick
Perry
“Tim Pawlenty is a good friend and colleague who I have worked closely
with over the years, including visiting our troops in Iraq and
Afghanistan. As a governor, Tim stuck to conservative principles
despite leading a blue state like Minnesota. He and Mary are true
patriots who are committed to our country, and ran an honorable
campaign that reflected their integrity. Gov. Pawlenty’s common-sense
conservative voice will remain prominent and influential as we work to
beat President Obama in 2012 and get America working again.”
GOVERNOR PAWLENTY
SHOULD BE APPLAUDED
FOR A GREAT EFFORT;
TOO EARLY TO BE PICKING WINNERS AND LOSERS
August 14, 2011, Santa Fe, NM
- Presidential Candidate Gary Johnson issued the following statement on
Governor Tim Pawlenty's withdrawal from the 2012 Presidential race:
"Governor Pawlenty's decision to end his campaign is his to make,
and I
respect that decision. He and his many supporters have put forth
a
great effort, and should be applauded for it. As Republicans
survey a
new list of candidates today, including the departure of a candidate
who is credible, experienced and who had a real record to run on, it is
appropriate to question the inflated role of an event like the Ames
Straw Poll in the process. That a pay-to-play gathering in Iowa
six
months before the first real ballots are cast can be such a qualifying
-- or disqualifying -- event is something the media and tens of
millions of Republican voters need to think about. A lot of
voices
have not been heard yet, and it is far too early for the 'system' to be
picking winners and losers.
"If
there is a message from Ames, it is that this race is wide open and
that the vast majority of Republicans and Independents are still
looking for the candidate who can win the White House in 2012.
"
Santorum Reacts to
Governor Pawlenty's Withdrawal From
Presidential Race
Urbandale, IA -
Former Senator Rick Santorum (R-PA) made the following statement in
reaction to Governor Tim Pawlenty's (R-MN) decision to withdrawal from
the Republican Presidential contest.
"It
has been a great pleasure to get to know Tim, Mary, and the entire
Pawlenty family as we have crisscrossed the early primary states and
various Republican events over the past few months," said Senator
Santorum. "Tim is a tremendous family man, and devoted to moving
our
nation in the right direction and away from the radical agenda advanced
by President Obama. I have no doubt he will be an influential
leader
for the conservative movement in whatever capacity he decides for many
years to come. And to Governor Pawlenty's many supporters who were
attracted to his common-sense conservative record of achievement, know
that my campaign will also stand for leadership based on tried and true
conservative principles."
DNC Communications Director Brad Woodhouse on Tim
Pawlenty Dropping Out of the Race
Ames,
IA—DNC Communications Director Brad Woodhouse released the following
statement on Governor Tim Pawlenty dropping out of the Republican
primary field:
“A
former two-term Governor of a neighboring state, a social conservative,
a person who on paper should be everything Republicans should consider
in a candidate for president, was run out of the race because he wasn't
extreme enough. In the past 72 hours we've seen all the GOP
candidates
swear allegiance to the Tea Party in a debate, the national front
runner refer to ‘corporations as people,’ the two most extreme
candidates in the field – Tea Party favorites - come out on top of the
Iowa Straw poll and someone once considered among the leading
candidates for the nomination drop out of the race because he was not
extreme or vitriolic enough for the Tea Party which now owns and
operates the GOP. But, while protecting tax breaks for the wealthy
and
big oil while proposing to end Medicare, slash Social Security and pile
additional burdens on the middle class might win plaudits with the Tea
Party, it’s not remotely what the American people are looking for.”