Tim Pawlenty takes to Iowa TV airwaves (video)

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Is it 2012 yet? Nope, but it’s coming on fast, and former Minnesota Republican Gov. Tim Pawlenty is already buying airtime to pitch his presidential candidacy to Iowa voters, who will caucus early next year on who they think should be the Republican standard-bearer.


According to reports, Pawlenty is investing $50K to get a 30-second spot on Iowa airwaves. He is touting his ability to successfully pursue a Republican agenda in what is generally seen as a relatively liberal state. It is currently represented by two Democratic US senators, including the decidedly liberal Al Franken, along with Amy Klobuchar, and a former Democratic senator, Mark Dayton, is serving as Pawlenty’s gubernatorial successor.

The tag line, which some believe will become a staple of the Pawlenty campaign, is “If I can do it in Minnesota, we can do it in Washington.”

According to The Hill, the ad is headed for Fox News and will appear in several markets, including Des Moines, Grand Rapids, Omaha, Ottumwa, Rochester and Sioux City. It’s called “Results Not Rhetoric,” and will run through 7/3/11 ahead of the upcoming Ames IA straw poll.

RBR-TVBR observation: This is not the biggest ad buy in the world, but it opens the door in Iowa – all comers who want to seriously contest the state now have to think about when to begin a media campaign, and how big they want it to be. We’re sure everybody remembers who got a boost in the last Iowa presidential caucus, because that person will be running again for re-election.