Politics

Tim Pawlenty drops Web video before Monday announcement of presidential run

Jeff Winkler Contributor
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It’s officially about to be official! Tim Pawlenty released a Web video Sunday announcing that he is about to announce his intent to join the 2012 presidential race.

In the official video, the former Minnesota governor says he plans to make his official announcement to run as the Republican candidate at his “first campaign stop, in Iowa” on Monday.

The pre-announcement announcement video, “A Time for Truth,” also gets quite meta.

“I could give a speech, and tell you I’m running for president. I could have a podium with my campaign logo on it. I could have balloons,” says Pawlenty in a voice over, as actual balloons, a podium and indeed a teleprompter with the exact monologue appear on the screen.

Pawlenty does, however, come out hard against President Barack Obama.

“We have too much debt, too much government spending and too few jobs,” says Pawlenty in the video. “We need a president who understands that our problems are deep and has the courage to face them. President Obama doesn’t. I do.”

Pawlenty also takes a swipe at Obama’s “fancy speeches” and “empty promises,” which he says are inadequate substitutes for “solutions.”

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