With Minnesota polls so close, we're lucky McCain didn't pick Pawlenty ...

[Alhena]

Palin has turned out to be like a high-caffeine political drink for the McCain campaign- it provided a brief jolt followed by a crash as more sober Americans got a better look at her. But I thought all along that Minnesota governor Pawlenty looked like the most competent of McCain's possible choices- picking him would have been a serious and responsible choice by McCain.

Looking at polls showing Obama only leading McCain by a few points in Minnesota, it's now clear that it would have been the correct political move as well. I am very confident that Obama will carry Minnesota now, but I would have been very worried if McCain had chosen Pawlenty.

[WI_DEM]

1. the pollsters have actually said that Palin was better than Pawlenty in MN because

she helped in rural areas of the state where Pawlenty wasn't much help. Remember prior to the convention when speculation was that Pawlenty was going to be selected Obama had a fair sized lead, while after Palin was selected MN got closer. Rural voters/hunters are the main reason.

[ogneopasno]

2. No; Pawlenty's numbers here took a dive

when he did all that campaigning for McCain. I think that would have continued. Pawlenty has nothing. And now he'll fade back into the woodwork.

[calmblueocean]

3. First hand experience on that

My sister and her family are conservative Republicans, and she's been saying to me for over a year how she really likes McCain.

But she feels like McCain made a big mistake choosing Sarah Palin instead of Pawlenty. Whenever I talk to her about the elections, it always comes back to, "He really should've picked Pawlenty." As it is, my McCain-leaning sis is basing her vote on the VP debate. Which is actually pretty amazing, that she's considering voting for Obama-Biden. Pawlenty as VP would've sewn up her vote in a sec.

I should say that I think the polls are not indicative of the huge Obama support here in the state. I don't know how they're weighting the poll results, but I can tell you that the Dem primaries here clogged the streets with new Obama supporters. I would bet $1000 that McCain will not win this state.

[torbird]

4. History, history

MN has gone for a Democrat every election since 1976, and like 16 times in 19 elections since 1932. I am confident it will happen again. At heart, Minnesotans are sane, policy-oriented folks who know that efficient government carries real benefits -- otherwise, how could humans survive those temperatures?

[Infinite Hope]

5. Minnesotans always flirt with voting the other way and being "Independent"...but in the end, we...

always go Democrat. It's not a swing state and won't be any time in the near future.

[Every Man A King]

6. Collapsed bridge or Bridge to No Where