Bachmann victory, Pawlenty dropout could alter GOP health care tone

On the Sunday morning talk shows, former Minn. Gov. Tim Pawlenty announced he's leaving the presidential race and Rep. Michele Bachmann, R-Minn., celebrated her Iowa straw poll win.

The Wall Street Journal: Pawlenty "launched his campaign with high hopes, some of the top campaign talent in the Republican Party and perhaps the best organization in Iowa, which will start the nominating process early next year at its caucuses. He was seen as an experienced alternative to front-runner Mitt Romney, who is distrusted by some conservatives because of liabilities such as the health-care law he pushed as governor of Massachusetts, which was a model for President Barack Obama's health plan" (Weisman and King, 8/14).

USA Today:"He had emphasized his record as a two-term governor in a Democratic state, as a contrast to Bachmann and her experience. Pawlenty also sought to contrast himself with Romney, a former Massachusetts governor, on the issue of health care, pointing out that he signed a market-based law in Minnesota. He had derided the law enacted under Romney as 'Obamneycare'" (Camia, 8/14).

The Washington Post: "'It's been a great honor for Mary and me and our team to convey the message of trying to get this country back on track -- and I think it is off-track -- by bringing my record forward as a two-term governor of a blue state, doing things like getting government spending under control, doing health care reform the right way, and much more,' Pawlenty said in the "This Week" interview. 'But obviously that message didn't get the kind of traction or lift that we needed and hoped for'" (Gardner, 8/14).

Politico: "Bachmann continued to highlight her record of opposing legislation in Washington such as the federal debt ceiling increase and Obama's health-care package, but also touched on her work with Democrats in the state legislature as evidence that she is not merely a member of the conservative shock troops" (Cogan, 8/14).

CBS News: "Bachmann also called for tax reform and the repeal of the federal health care law and vowed to get America's Triple-A credit rating back. Bachmann opposes again increasing the debt limit and says America should prioritizing paying its creditors as well as paying members of the military and entitlement obligations when the limit is reached. 'We will ... make sure all senior citizens that are currently on entitlements get their checks,' she said, adding that entitlements will eventually need to be reformed" (Montopoli, 8/14).