The Washington Post--among others---has Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty at the top of the prospective Vice Presidents for John McCain. Pawlenty is a Midwest Governor, 47 years old, well liked by both economic and social conservatives, just re-elected in a supposed "battleground" state where the Republican convention will be held this summer, at St. Paul's Ecel Center.

But here's three reasons why nominating Tim Pawlenty would be a good thing for Democrats, and why Tim Pawlenty can't deliver Minnesota to McCain in the Fall:

1. Governor Carol Molnau -- She's the Lt. Gov and would succeed Pawlenty. Oops--she's also the former Transporation Commissioner on whose watch the I-35W bridge fell. She was run out of her former position by a lynch mob.

Nobody wants "Governor Molnau." The DFL (Democratic Party in MN)can run anti-Molnau ads in addition to anti-war ads to keep MN blue.

Ads that equate McCain/Pawlenty/Coleman/Molnau as a team would speak volumes without even mentioning the I-35W disaster that occured on Molnau's watch.

2. Minnesota is truly an Anti-War State -- Early and often people in the Twin Cities have been vocal in their hatred of the War and George Bush. Demonstrations during the Republican Convention will highlight that. But here's something you maybe didn't know: Minnesota has one of the highest National Guard enlistment rates in the country. All across the state there are swing voters in outer suburbs and small towns who know friends and family that have been jerked from their jobs and sent to Iraq. Independents hate the war as much as Democrats.

3. T-Paw isn't that popular to begin with. Yes, he's won re-election in 2006, a Democratic year. But look it up: it was a one point win over an irritable, sometimes prickly candidate, Mike Hatch (and a Lt Gov candidate who, in the last week of a very close campaign, didn't know what E85 was..very dumb mistake in a farm state.)

There's more: we turned out 200,000+ for the DFL caucuses on February 5th, and we went 2-to-1 for Obama. The Republicans turned out 50,000. The University of Minnesota is one of the largest colleges in the country, with a student body that's been swamping the caucuses and volunteer centers here. Barack Obama is hugely popular in Minnesota.

The North Star state will shine blue this Fall. Count on it.

Cross posted at Dailykos.com