Politics

Tim Pawlenty promises to cook dinner and mow lawns

Alex Pappas Political Reporter
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AMES, Iowa — If you need your dinner cooked or lawn mowed, Tim Pawlenty might be your man.

During a Fox News-sponsored debate here Thursday night, the Republican presidential candidate jokingly offered to do some domestic chores for anyone who can find President Barack Obama’s positions on some of the “most pressing financial issues of our country.”

“Where is Barack Obama’s plan on social security reform? Medicare reform? Medicaid reform?” Pawlenty said. “In fact, I’ll offer a prize tonight to anybody in this auditorium or anyone watching on television, if you can find Barack Obama’s specific plan on any of those items, I will come to your house and cook you dinner.”

Pawlenty, the former governor of Minnesota, also used the joke to land a punch against opponent Mitt Romney, the wealthy former governor of Massachusetts.

“Or if you prefer, I’ll come to your house and mow your lawn,” Pawlenty said. “But in case Mitt wins, I’m limiting it to one acre. One acre.”

Others participating in the Iowa debate were Jon Huntsman, Michele Bachmann, Ron Paul, Herman Cain, Newt Gingrich and Rick Santorum.