Pawlenty releases new video to hype campaign

GOP presidential candidate Tim Pawlenty’s campaign released a new Web video Tuesday designed to generate buzz for his fledgling White House bid. 

The video features clips of Pawlenty’s speech last Monday in Des Moines, Iowa, where he announced he was officially jumping in the race, as well as footage of his wife, Mary, speaking on his behalf, interviews with supporters and clips from his weeklong media tour. 

The three and a half-minute video hits on the central themes of Pawlenty’s campaign, particularly that he is going to be the candidate to “look you in the eye and tell you the truth” about the country’s problems.

A supporter also refers to Pawlenty’s campaign strategy: “I think Gov. Pawlenty’s presence here in Iowa will create a great momentum for his campaign,” he says.

The video’s release comes after other potential candidates attracted attention the week that Pawlenty, the former Minnesota governor, annnounced his bid. 

Namely, former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin (R) announced the start of a nationwide bus tour, setting off a media firestorm and prompting questions about whether she’ll run for president. 

Pawlenty is looking to make up ground against other candidates in the field. A recent Gallup poll showed him getting only 6 percent support among Republicans and Republican-leaning independents — lower than former Godfather’s Pizza CEO Herman Cain’s 8 percent support.

Several people in Pawlenty’s video tout his conservative credentials. The video includes a clip of conservative talk radio giant Rush Limbaugh praising Pawlenty. “I know you’re qualified. You have the guts, too,” Limbaugh says.

“I like the fact that he’s considered a conservative,” says one woman in Iowa.