All Minnesota governor Tim Pawlenty needed to escape from the crabby, gay-sweatery shadow of John McCain was for an eight-lane bridge to collapse during rush hour in his state's busiest city. Now, the Gopher State governor is again being talked about as a possible running mate for GOP wannabes, even if McCain isn't the Republican nominee.
Long McCain's presumed choice for VP, Pawlenty's ambitions—like that of all McCain loyalists—have been dampened as the Arizona senator has struggled to gain traction on the national stage. While other chums of the Arizona senator have distanced themselves from McCain, Pawlenty is riding the old battleship straight to the bottom as co-chairman of McCain's campaign.