Pawlenty: GOP needs more positive message

Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty told reporters Republicans need to offer a more positive message to win voters over this fall and praised presumptive presidential nominee John McCain as the perfect messenger.

"I think we have to be more than just the accountants for the Democrats," Pawlenty said during a media availability prior to his speech. "We just can't be the ones to say things are on the wrong track. We have to offer solutions."

Pawlenty, often mentioned as a potential vice presidential pick for McCain, fended off questions about whether he would be willing to share the GOP ticket this fall with McCain.

But when asked what qualities a VP pick would need to help McCain win upper Midwest states like Wisconsin and Minnesota, Pawlenty ticked off a series of attributes that could be found on his resume, including agricultural issues and economic development.

"I'm focused on being governor of the state of Minnesota," said Pawlenty, who broke away from intense budget negotiations to deliver the speech. "I have a day job, and I'm happy to support John McCain as a volunteer."

Pawlenty, who said he was in Stevens Point at the request of the Wisconsin GOP and not McCain, said Republicans still have work to do to re-claim their brand with voters and persuade them they are different from Democrats. He acknowledged troubling signs in the electorate, including recent GOP losses in special elections for House seats, and said President Bush has begun to try to rein in spending, a core value for the party.

"I think people are looking to Sen. McCain to kind of re-energize our chances in that regard," Pawlenty said. "He is a person who I think can appeal in states and in places that traditionally or recently we haven't had that kind of appeal."

Pawlenty also said Republicans missed an opportunity to connect with young voters and need to ramp up those efforts. Asked what the GOP could offer young voters, Pawlenty showed his sense of humor.

"We need to make sure we don't get up in their grill, and we gotta bounce," he said, pausing for a few laughs. "You know what I'm saying?"

Listen to the availability here.

-- By JR Ross