Bachmann eleva el tono contra Pawlenty

El equipo de Michele Bachmann ha adoptado un tono más agresivo contra Pawlenty en las últimas horas con la publicación de dos declaraciones de prensa criticando el historial del ex Gobernador de Minnesota. El aumento de la intensidad en los ataques puede ser reflejo de que sus sondeos internos empiezan a señalar a Pawlenty, quien ha redoblado esfuerzos en Iowa, como una amenaza creíble para su candidatura.

Des Moines Register:

(...) Sunday, amid campaigning in Marion, Muscatine and Davenport, Bachmann struck back, issuing a press statement that said: “Executive experience is not an asset if it simply means bigger and more intrusive government,” and that “being right on the issues is critical — it is what the American people demand.”

Bachmann linked Pawlenty to President Barack Obama’s philosophy of proactive, aggressive government, which “has brought us record deficits, massive unemployment, and an unconstitutional health care plan.”

She also said Pawlenty left “a multi-billion-dollar budget mess in Minnesota,” an accusation previously leveled by Democrats and repeatedly rebutted by Pawlenty. Pawlenty left office in January. Minnesota’s government shut down for nearly three weeks earlier this month in a bitter partisan standoff over how to close a $5 billion deficit.

(...) Bachmann also hit at other areas in Pawlenty’s record where earlier statements contrast with current positions.

“Actions speak louder than words,” Bachmann’s statement said. “When I was fighting against the unconstitutional individual mandate in health care, Governor Pawlenty was praising it.” Pawlenty now disavows a mandate to purchase health insurance and takes credit for Minnesota’s passage of what he describes as market-based health-care reforms.

Bachmann also cited her fight against so-called cap-and-trade legislation to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions. Pawlenty initially backed a Midwest effort to reduce greenhouse gases, a position he’s had to walk back as a candidate. (...)