Pawlenty is the First Casualty

It's hard to believe anyone would base their future presidential campaign on the circus that is the Ames Straw Poll, but Tim Pawlenty has decided the results compel him to leave the race (from Big Government):

Former Minnesota governor Tim Pawlenty announced on Sunday he is dropping out of the Republican presidential contest, after a distant third place finish in a key test vote.

Pawlenty made the announcement after finishing with 2,293 votes Saturday in Iowa’s Ames Straw Poll — seen as a key indicator of who will fare well in early nominating contests next year — over 2,500 votes behind winner Representative Michele Bachmann and second place finisher Ron Paul.

The Pawlenty campaign, officially launched in May, “didn’t get the kind of traction and lift we had hoped coming out of the straw poll,” he told ABC’s “This Week.”

“I’m announcing on your show that I am ending my campaign for the presidency.”

The low-key Pawlenty — derided by detractors as bland and uncharismatic — is little known outside of his home state. He had hoped to position himself as a fiscal conservative who will shake up Washington.

Farewell T-Paw, we hardly knew ye.

At one point I thought he would be a good choice for president, especially given the dismal quality of the other contenders. However, he didn't prove himself to be the kind of dynamic leader the GOP will need to beat Obama in 2012. Better to get out now than drag a dead campaign for another several months.

UPDATE:  I see a number of people promoting the idea of T-Paw for VP.  No thanks.  We need an aggressive team on the GOP ticket next year.  Nice guys need not apply.