Minnesota Republican Gov. Tim Pawlenty, after making a series of smart strategic moves over the past few months in advance of an expected run for president in 2012, has struggled on the national stage in the past few weeks.
First, Pawlenty waded into a special congressional election in upstate New York on behalf of Conservative Party nominee Doug Hoffman — a move that came directly on the heels of former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin’s decision to endorse Hoffman over Dede Scozzafava (R), a state assemblywoman. …
Hoffman fell short in the special election.
What exactly was the mistake here? Or do endorsements count only when they result in immediate victories?