Former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty says he has the momentum to make a strong showing in next week’s Iowa straw poll,
Politico reports.
The presidential hopeful also said on “Fox News Sunday” he is not discouraged that he’s running third in earlier Iowa polls, which in 2008 indicated former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani or Secretary of State Hillary Clinton would have won the presidency.
“Those early polls don’t predict the final outcome almost ever," he said.
Pawlenty trails fellow Minnesotan Rep. Michele Bachmann and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney in the state, the site of the first GOP caucus. He said he anticipates moving up from the back of the pack.
“I don’t think we have to win it; we have to show progress,” he said. “I am confident that we will.”
Pawlenty has spent 42 days in Iowa and has held more than 100 events.
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