'You Get a Job Offer Yet?'

August 6, 2008— -- Pawlenty Auditions for V.P.

Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R) said Wednesday that the GOP has been losing "market share" and argued that his party needs to broaden its appeal.

"We want to be the party of Sam's Club, not just the country club," said Pawlenty. "People deserve and expect a more effective government at a better price."

In his appearance before the National Press Club, the Minnesota governor demonstrated why he is believed to be on McCain's short-list for V.P.: while he lacks Mitt Romney's ties to the mega-battleground state of Michigan, Pawlenty has a knack for encapsulating the Arizona senator's policies under the theme of delivering better "value" for middle-class families.

Consistent with McCain's support for redirecting $1 billion to digital education, Pawlenty touted on-line learning as a way to reduce the cost of higher education.

"Why would you drive from Stillwater, Minnesota, in January an hour in rush hour to get over to the University of Minnesota campus, park in a remote parking lot, strap on your back pack, haul across campus in challenging weather conditions, get into a lecture hall, unpack, sit in a chair and have a sometimes gifted -- sometimes not -- assistant professor, lecture you on Economics 101 when you can't even pay for it?"

"Why would you not get out of bed, pour yourself a cup of coffee, sit on your sofa, and dial it up on digital storage from any university in the world?" he asked. "The marginal cost of educating a student in a class like that, once it's up and running, is zero."

"For many of these classes," he emphasized, "we could cut the cost of higher education by 70, 80, or 90 percent."

On health care, Pawlenty did not advocate any specific reforms but echoed McCain in arguing that rising costs stem from consumers having "no knowledge of cost and quality."

On K-12 education, Pawlenty joined McCain in touting school choice.

He also echoed McCain in calling for changes to the ways in which teachers are certified and paid.

During the question-and-answer period, Pawlenty said that the nation needs to move away from its reliance on the gas tax for funding transportation infrastructure.

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