Pawlenty launches TV ad campaign in Iowa

Tim Pawlenty on Wednesday launched a TV ad campaign in Iowa, becoming the first GOP presidential candidate to hit the airwaves in the first caucus state.

Pawlenty is buying about $50,000 worth of airtime on Fox News in the Des Moines, Grand Rapids, Omaha, Ottumwa, Rochester and Sioux City markets, according to reports. The 30-second spot, titled “Results Not Rhetoric,” will be broadcast between June 23 and July 3 and focuses on his record as Minnesota governor.

“A lot of candidates will come to Iowa and say the same things. The question is, have they done it?” Pawlenty asks. He references his efforts to bring down state spending, battle public employee unions, appoint conservative justices and reform healthcare.

“If I can do it in Minnesota, we can do it in Washington,” he adds.

The ads are yet another sign that the former Minnesota governor is looking to up his game in Iowa ahead of the Ames straw poll, a key early indicator of the state of the primary field.

Last week, Pawlenty’s campaign began sending out mailers to Iowa voters and reports indicated that the candidate will spend around half of July campaigning in Iowa.

Democrats accused Pawlenty of distorting his record as governor of Minnesota, saying that he left the state with a budget deficit and higher taxes.

“The title of Tim Pawlenty’s ad in Iowa should be ‘smell test’ – because it doesn’t hardly pass it,” said Democratic National Committee communications director Brad Woodhouse. “The Minnesota Tim Pawlenty left behind wasn’t nearly as rosy as he’d like voters in Iowa to believe.”

Pawlenty is making Iowa the centerpiece of his campaign strategy, but other contenders could challenge his bid to win the caucuses.

Rep. Michele Bachmann (R), Pawlenty’s fellow Minnesotan, is making a strong push for Iowa voters: She is a native of the state and is expected to officially launch her bid in her hometown of Waterloo.

And many strategists believe Texas Gov. Rick Perry (R) could play well in the Hawkeye State should he decide to enter the race.

— This post was updated at 12:08 p.m.