“At this point, it is not a committed run for President and Pawlenty’s stated goal appears to be to provide a fresh face for the GOP.  Black suggests that what Pawlenty may do is a 501(c)4 organization.

According to Black and his source, the 501(c)4 can raise money, advocate issues and even limited polling related to those issues.  They cannot donate to candidates or give the funds raised (not tax deductible donations but it is a tax-exempt organization) to a campaign.  Pawlenty cannot be an announced candidate.  But he can travel around the country and speak on these issues. 

I respect Gov. Pawlenty.  He is from a clean state – Minnesota has very little public corruption and encourages public participation.  Minnesotans have even voted for third parties from time to time – ask former Governor Jesse Ventura.  He also has a great personal story – son of a truck driver, ordinary origins, etc.  He also is a proven vote getter in a blue state.  He was vetted by the press in 2008.  (By the way, if you are looking for negative stuff here – forget it!  We can disagree but not be disagreeable!)  He appears to be a fairly steady conservative.

I still submit that the new face for the GOP is Governor Jindal.  He has as good a story as Pawlenty.  Son of recent immigrants, Indian-American, graduate of high school at 16, Rhodes Scholar, holding several offices including Congress and Governor by the tender age of 37.  I suggest that Jindal will play better than Pawlenty due to his ethnic background with independents and some liberals. 

The infamous response speech in February does not show Jindal as his best.  I submit that he should have had an audience (Remember how exciting the speech Christie Todd Whitman gave as the response to one of President Clinton’s SOTW speeches – she spoke before the New Jersey Legislature in the state capitol.  There was electric excitement.) and he should have a short hard hitting speech after a brfief introduction of himself. 

Perhaps Governor Jindal should consider the same 501(c)4 entity – to promote ideas such as ethics in government, health care, or other issues the governor is interested in.  He can then talk to groups, advocate issues, raise his standing among voters with solid ideas and he can say with perfect truth that he is not running for President.  But, he is not ruling it out, either…

It’s a long way off until 2012…