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Tim Pawlenty on Iowa Chances

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    Republican presidential candidate on 'Fox News Sunday'

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-- we continue our series of 20121 on one interview -- with GOP presidential candidates.

But the man who hopes to boost his chances this week in the Fox News debate and then they I was dropped call.

Joining us from west -- -- as Tim Pawlenty and governor welcome back to FOX News Sunday.

-- -- -- -- -- I can now Chris I lost to -- sorry -- god -- with it'll come to -- we've got to.

Iowa reporters and some.

Top state Republican officials are saying that your campaign.

Is starting to pick up some momentum are -- -- I was surprised people -- your selling in the Ames straw poll.

We're gonna show good progress in the Ames straw -- my record.

Cutting government spending appointing conservative justices doing Health Care Reform the right way and more is now getting out as we've had TV ads and radio ads and the spending a lot of time here in Iowa so I think we'll show good progress for the Ames straw poll but our real goal is those caucuses next January February.

That's the ultimate objective for Republican candidates in Iowa well it despite all this talk and there is talk on the ground about all madam.

We gotta go at least for now bat with a hard numbers and those are not encouraging let's -- up on the screen.

You have spent 42.

Days in Iowa and held a -- into events.

And yet according to real clear politics -- average of Iowa -- Michelle Bachmann is leading with twenty -- present.

Romney is just behind at 22 point 3% and your.

A distant third at seven point 5% when you have -- longer.

And harder in Iowa why is congresswoman Bachmann beating.

Well as you know those early polls don't predict the final outcome almost ever and so we're not too worried about the early polls.

They predicted anything that Rudy Giuliani would be president or Hillary Clinton would but more importantly we are seeing momentum on the ground you're gonna see good progress and a week from yesterday next Saturday at teams drop all the proof will be in the putting I think you'll see our campaign moving up from.

Back of the -- to closer to front of the pack because my record as Minnesota's governor and getting those things done in a very liberal state.

Like -- -- and cutting government spending Health Care Reform the right way and appointing conservative justices people and Iowa are now seeing that record they see that I did -- under the most difficult circumstances and -- responding.

You know obviously you and Bachmann both from Minnesota both appealing to a lot of the same voter is evangelicals social conservatives.

Tea Party -- and you've been taken some shots.

At congresswoman Bachmann recently you say that she has no accomplishments.

In congress that she makes a lot of speeches that doesn't get results the question I have is.

Is that fair the congresswoman founded that the Tea Party in the house she was the first congress person.

To call for repeal of obamacare given the fact that she was in the minority.

Until just this January.

Aren't bill's accomplishments.

Well a couple of things one is I think I'm -- unique in the race in that I can unite the whole conservative movement it consists in part of economic conservative social conservative libertarian -- -- part.

I've got a record that can authentically and genuinely appeal to the whole thing many -- the other candidates appeal primarily to one chunk of that but not all of that's that's one of the advantages I bring -- and as to congresswoman Bachmann or any other candidate in this race I think one of the minimum.

Prerequisites for being the next president of United States in these most challenging of times -- you have executive experience that you -- a large enterprise with a public component to it.

And achieve results I have done that.

My comments about her record if you just look at -- record in congress.

In -- is great comments and -- offering amendments that didn't pass in the light but as to these things that were concerned about cutting government spending.

Getting health -- done the right we're not talking about it but actually doing these things accomplishing these things getting results.

I said her records nonexistent that's not.

A dispute of -- it's a matter of fact well I mean she was in the minority she couldn't defeat Obama care buyers south.

Well we're all held to our results and so in all of it whether you have talked about it what you've given it rhetoric.

This is one of the themes I think in this race is going to be after Barack Obama He came through Iowa and other places.

In these soaring speeches these incredible comments people hear the Democrats bought it in Iowa.

Many catapulted him to the presidency of the United States and we now know He wasn't prepared for the job He hadn't run anything -- and done anything.

And his record of results was essentially nonexistent we don't want a repeat that mistake well I have to ask are you comparing Bachmann to a -- in terms of not being prepared for the job.

Well again whether it's any candidate I don't think it's unreasonable or inflammatory area of indisputable to say that the next president United States should have executive experience with results running a large enterprise.

I have that kind of experience experience it's one of the strengths -- bring to the race well then let let's talk about your record because the congresswoman has fired back at you she says that you were big spender big government.

Compares you to Barack Obama and says that you left.

A five billion dollar budget mess in your -- -- is one of the reasons that we had to shut down in Minnesota.

Well look my record Minnesota is one of the best of any governor in the country to Cato Institute which is a libertarian a grating no organization.

-- only four governors in the country and a great.

I'm one of those four and the other three aren't running for president.

Anybody who looks at my record of taking spending from historic ties to historic lows.

Appointing conservative justices Health Care Reform the right way public employee compensation reform before it was cool and popular in and on the list everything that Republicans are talking about.

Needing that the for the country to -- I've actually done Chris I don't just flat my jaw.

I don't just say maybe I'll do it some day I don't talk about the hopes of getting it done.

I've done it under difficult circumstances in Minnesota and my record look I've been in the battle I got a few battle scars like everybody does.

The my record is one of the best maybe the best of any governor in the country.

Governor let's talk about that the downgrade of our credit -- which we've been talking about so far on this program -- -- In both parties -- and other bashing both Democrats and Republicans you say that that you don't support.

The compromise that after weeks -- weeks of negotiating all sides finally came up way ahead.

If the problem is getting gridlock wouldn't president pull money be part of the problem.

Absolutely not again have a record of getting things done I never had a Republican legislature fully in my state.

And yet all of those things I mentioned earlier we got accomplished one of the ingredients of breaking the gridlock.

Is having a leader in this case a president of the United States who has the courage in the experience in the fortitude to lead.

And look at this president we can't find him Chris where is his specific public plan on Social Security reform where his his specific public plan.

On Medicare reform and Medicaid reform.

We shouldn't have to play come out come out wherever you are with the present a United States He has an obligation and responsibility to lead.

And you can't find him He should step forward to the microphone and lead this nation on most pressing challenging.

Financial issues of our day.

And He is not in action He he's hiding on these issues he's ducking on these issues He should be leading He has an obligation and responsibility to do it.

Bet you were talking before about the fact that you know you were back in the -- in the -- -- and that you think you're gonna be up near the lead it when we get the results from the Ames straw poll next Saturday.

As we said you sound a lot more time and a lot more money and -- -- congressman Bachmann don't you have to beat her on Saturday and -- No I don't I think we got to move from the back of the pack and show some progress to towards the front of the pack.

These things sort out over a long period of time and look everybody's records are gonna get scrutinized he's is a long.

Journey for a reason the American people people I wanna kick the tires hopefully they'll limited to kicking just the tires.

-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- Somewhat distant but you are third don't you have to finish at least third and aims to remain a credible candidate.

I thought you set I was not third earlier colonel -- that you guys as that which I tell you know I said you -- there.

Well into the Moines register -- which I think by most accounts is the credible benchmark poll here in Iowa had me in six or -- place.

Just a few weeks ago so our goal is to move from the back of the pack stay in need to something closer to the front I don't think we need to win it but we do need to show.

A good progress and I'm confident that we will as that record from Minnesota that I talked about continues to get out.

Governor Pawlenty who want to thank you so much for joining us today and we will see you Thursday night -- names for the fox debate.

I'm looking forward to -- thank you Chris we are -- coming up our Sunday --

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