"Now is the spring of our discontent."
Bush backers concerned by Iraq 'mess'
Governor wants to see end game
By Ron Fournier, Associated Press, 4/15/2004
ST. PAUL -- Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty, a Republican ally of President Bush, says Iraq is "a mess" and voters are rattled. He ought to know: He's attending two funerals this week of servicemen killed in the Persian Gulf nation.
"People are becoming unnerved by it," said Pawlenty, who is cochairman of Bush's state campaign. "Minnesota communities are strong and tough, but people do want to know, 'What's the end game here?' "
Pawlenty discussed the political implications of Iraq hours after attending the Tuesday funeral of Corporal Tyler Fey of Eden Prairie, Minn., who was killed April 4 in Iraq's Al Anbar province. Two other soldiers from Minnesota died in Iraq last week.
At Fey's funeral, his brother, Ryan, told hundreds of mourners, "I have so much anger for the politicians in Washington. [Their policies] sent my brother on a second tour of Iraq after I thought he'd done his part in the initial invasion."
Pawlenty, who will attend a second soldier's funeral later this week, urged Bush to keep making the case that much good has been accomplished in Iraq.
"But, at the same time, it's a mess. You've got people there who, based on religious backgrounds, hate each other. They've got all kinds of agendas and sub-agendas, and I think it's confusing to Americans because they don't understand why Iraqis don't like us. They don't get it," the governor said.
"They're starting to ask this question, 'Is this thing really going to work?' "
Laura Hemler, a mother of three in the politically crucial Minneapolis suburb of Edina, said her neighbors are growing uneasy about Iraq. Hemler, cochairwoman of Bush's campaign in the state's most populous and wealthiest county, Hennepin, said suburban women once comforted by Bush's fight against terrorism may have second thoughts if he doesn't adequately explain his goals in Iraq. She said Bush did a good job explaining himself during Tuesday's prime-time news conference.
Pawlenty said he strongly supports Bush's policy in Iraq and believes the president's news conference should allay some concerns.
"I think the message was good," he said yesterday. "He reiterated the challenge and opportunities and the importance of the mission. For the people who were willing to listen, I thought he was right on the mark." But questions persist. Several undecided voters in this key state -- Democrat Al Gore narrowly won Minnesota in 2000 -- said they're troubled by events in Iraq.
Amanda Svobodny, a suburban mother who voted for Bush in 2000, said she regrets her choice.
"I'm going to vote Democrat in this election," said the Maple Grove, Minn., resident. "I don't think we were ever made aware of what's going on in Iraq. His administration has not told the truth."
Pawlenty, who visited Iraq with several other governors last year, said the world is better with Saddam Hussein out of power, and will be better when peace is brought to Iraq. But Bush has a political problem on his hands, at least in the short term.
"The economy is likely to continue to stabilize between now and November," the governor said. "If that happens, and he stabilizes Iraq, I think he'll be reelected -- not by a lot, but I think he's going to get reelected."
In Ohio, another battleground state critical for Bush to carry in 2004, as he did in 2000, the mounting violence and casualties in Iraq may be straining support for Bush.
"I voted for Bush in 2000, but I'm having some second thoughts about him now," said 82-year-old Clarence Hammel, a retired jewelry company sales executive from Montgomery, Ohio.
No Republican has ever been elected president without carrying Ohio. Bush won the state in 2000 with 50 percent of the vote compared to 46 percent for Al Gore.
"He's got us in a terrible mess in Iraq and doesn't seem to have a good plan for getting us out of it," Hammel said yesterday.
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