Maybe, given Justin's lack of respect for Iowa (see what is Wrong with Iowa?)... That is Pawlenty might be getting dinged for his supporters. "It would be better to say that Pawlenty failed because he treated Republican primary and caucus voters like yokels." (maybe).

I actually think Justin is right, and a "Narrative Fail' on Pawlenty is premature. Not enough people paid attention up to this point.

If you follow twitter the most amazing things are the explanations given by insiders. Folks are always overexplaining. Part of this is art, you overexplain in a way that is constructive for the next leg, in this case, Pete says something good about Bachmann.

In truth it is hard to say why Pawlenty failed, or withdrew but it might have something to do with Perry entering. I think Perry goes to the top very quickly, and probably upsets Romney as front runner (Iowa doesn't matter in the sense that Bachman could win it, and this would not upset expectations about Romney).

Since it is not a constructive explanation, except for the sake of accuracy, I think both Pawlenty and Daniels withdrew because the midwest (extended rust belt) became much more liberal following the actions of republicans in state government. Issue 5 (in Ohio) and identical measures in Wisconsin and decent good will over the GM fix in Detroit ( last month GM sold more vehicles than any other company in the world)...also does more to explain NY-26 in Buffalo. The whole Great Lakes area at least around its already blue cities became more blue.

"Pawlenty's economic record as governor and his stands on social issues made him a good fit to run for President."

Not exactly, Pawlenty would still be in the race if more of the Great Lakes states were in play, since Pawlenty is less ideological than Bachmann the key is being able to win these states and Pawlenty was considerably behind Romney (who will also have general election difficulties here, but probably not in the primary.)

In other words I think a similar tide sunk Pawlenty, Daniels and NY-26, ergo Pawlenty's brand in theory couldn't deliver in fact when it came to the leans blue midwest/great lakes/rust belt.

Also can you really pin "Obamneycare" on Pawlenty? In terms of patent law applied to coining terms, it seems rather obvious to someone ordinarily skilled in the art. Even before it was passed some proggressives/defenders of single payer were refering to "ObamaCare" as "RomneyCare".

Does Pawlenty really coin terms, or do his supporters/others, these things get on the internet where they have a life of their own?

So at this juncture it is just the popularizers who are driving things.

"Do we really have to go back over the time when he called on conservatives to take inspiration from an act of alleged domestic violence?"

What!?!

Do you realize that this rumor on a google search leaves you as the number 1 reference?

So you are refering twice to a nine iron comment? Relative relevance? Compared to macro trends which shift voter preference across the entire rust belt?

Look give me the Ipod of the typical primary voter, and I will find Carrie Underwood's Before he Cheats. So there is nothing unpopular about taking inspiration in song from acts of domestic violence. Unless you are saying that the 9 iron is condescending "obsequiousness" when compared to taking a louisville slugger to both headlights!

"Do you realize that this rumor on a google search leaves you as the number 1 reference? "

I realize that it was from his first post-2008 election speech at CPAC

"Also can you really pin "Obamneycare" on Pawlenty?"

Yes, in the context of using the term on national television during interviews and then flinching from defending it during the debate.

"Not exactly, Pawlenty would still be in the race if more of the Great Lakes states were in play."

We have two competing explanations (though neither has to be the whole truth.)

1. People who saw Pawlenty chose not to support him and instead supported Bachmann, Romney, Perry, etc. because they thought Pawlenty's regional power base was too weak. One also has to believe that these tactical voters must think that a) Romney is the key to winning Massachusetts, b) we need Perry to keep Texas Republican and c) Bachmann is the key to a breakthrough in the Midwest.

2. The voters who saw and heard Pawlenty didn't like what they saw and heard.

Perry would have made getting the nomination harder (especially the task of becoming the anti-Bachmann in Iowa), but Perry is not why Pawlenty got half as many votes as Paul and Bachmann despite concentrating his time and resources in Iowa.

"I think both Pawlenty and Daniels withdrew because the midwest (extended rust belt) became much more liberal following the actions of republicans in state government."

I see no reason to doubt that Daniels chose not to run due to family concerns - especially due to question about the course of his marital life. And it is a damn shame.