Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty is the co-chair of Senator McCain's presidential campaign. Over at our Candidates' Forum early this morning Governor Pawlenty posted a statement detailing the rationale for his support of Senator McCain. Governor Pawlenty is a bona fide conservative of great political skills who has gotten to know Senator McCain well. I therefore accord his views serious consideration. He writes:

The 2008 Presidential election presents the Republican Party with a new opportunity to chart its future. For the first time in decades, a sitting president or vice president will not be a candidate to lead our country.

How will Republicans respond to this challenge? Hopefully, by selecting a strong, tested national leader of uncommon courage.

History has shown that Americans elect their president based on the times and the challenges confronting our nation. America is being tested in momentous ways, both domestically and internationally.

The times are calling out one of the finest public leaders in the modern history of our country – John McCain. Like Abraham Lincoln, Teddy Roosevelt and Ronald Reagan, he powerfully expresses conservative principles in a common sense way. John McCain’s unwavering courage, candor, character, and demonstrated willingness to take visionary risks to do what is right are all in the tradition of these great Republicans.

The next president will need all of these attributes and more in confronting the challenges we face both at home and abroad.

The pressure from the left to give up on Iraq will be immense. We need a president whose life is a testament to fortitude under fire and courage in the face of challenges. John McCain is a living example of such experience and leadership.

We need John McCain to keep America safe and strong. Under President McCain, America will never surrender to the threats of extremists.

That same toughness will be required in addressing key issues at home. The Republican Party spent twelve years in control of Congress, yet failed to curtail run-away spending. For more than 20 years John McCain has been an unwavering voice on behalf of hardworking, taxpaying Americans. He has been a lonely voice for spending restraint in the nation’s capitol and the leading advocate for “earmark reform.”

We also face an impending crisis in Social Security and Medicare. As recent history has clearly illustrated, solving these issues will require almost unending political will. Senator McCain’s record makes it clear he’s not afraid to tackle these challenges.

And you wouldn’t know it by listening to the mainstream media, but John McCain has been rock-solid on critical moral issues. He campaigned hard for Arizona’s amendment to protect traditional marriage and has been consistently pro-life throughout his career.

It is often said that the best sermons are lived, not preached. Newsweek once wrote, “McCain’s character has withstood tests the average politician can only imagine … He may be the last of his kind.” I hope you will join me in supporting him.

Posted by Scott at 07:06 AM  |    |