Former Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty might be coming up a little short in several recent GOP Presidential public opinion polls, but he's sure making a big effort to win the Peach State Republican primary next March.

He's headlining a fundraiser on Tuesday night at the Cherokee Town and Country Club in Atlanta. Event chairs read like a who's who of Atlanta GOP politics: Bernie Marcus, of Home Depot and now Georgia Aquarium acclaim, former Governor Sonny Perdue, former State Senate president pro-tem Eric Johnson, former GOP state chair candidate Tricia Pridemore, and Leo Wells. The event kicks off with a $500 per person reception, followed by a private dinner for co-chairs who have raised a minimum of $5,000. The Pawlenty campaign is managed by political whiz kid Nick Ayers, the 29-year old campaign guru -- called the "golden boy" by his peers -- for his two successful Perdue gubernatorial campaigns. Most recently Ayers served as the executive director of the Republican Governors Association, where he helped elect new governors like Nikki Haley of South Carolina and Chris Cristie of New Jersey. 

Atlanta political consultant Bernie Tokarz says Pawlenty's presence in Georgia is a natural. "Pawlenty's hiring of Nick Ayers has enabled the former governor to inherit Sonny Perdue's entire political apparatus. Perdue is a prolific fundraiser and Pawlenty certainly wants to take full advantage of that dynamic."

BUT CAN HE WIN? 

Our analysis on Pawlenty's chances at this stage of the game is straightforward. First, he has to raise enough money to fund his early key campaign states, which are staffed with seasoned paid political operatives. Second, he has to finish at least second in both Iowa and New Hampshire to get to Super Tuesday, where he has a shot to win some big states, like Georgia.

Pawlenty's main nemesis right now is not Mitt Romney, but Texas Governor Rick Perry, who lurks in the shadows, like Batman, waiting for the bat sign to appear in the sky. When Perry gets in, Pawlenty will have to find a way to stay viable early against much more energizing speakers, like Perry, Michele Bachmann and Hermain Cain. But you can't count Pawlenty out. He's tough, and his brain trust has been to this rodeo before. Remember, this is a candidate who won two-terms in the land of 1,000 taxes -- Minnesota -- of Hubert Humphrey, Walter Mondale and now Al Franken fame. This is also a governor who won re-election in the second most liberal state in the nation as a reform conservative in 2006, the same year that Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid gained control of both legislative branches of the federal government by swamping the GOP.

Pridemore, who serves as a key finance executive in the Pawlenty campaign, says her candidate represents the best chance for a Republican to oust President Obama in 2012. "After the state convention (Pridemore lost to incumbent Ga. State GOP Chair Sue Everhart) I really did my due diligence in reviewing each candidate and I quickly came to the conclusion that Gov. Pawlenty is the best choice with the best plan," Pridemore explained. "He's a strong conservative on fiscal and social issues and he has record of cutting taxes and growing the economy in Minnesota," she asserted. Pridemore, a vibrant Right to Life advocate, said Pawlenty appointed pro-life judges in his state and supported pro-life legislation. "As a result, teen abortions dropped thirty percent during his tenure." Pridemore added that she likes his economic plan, too. "He wants to cut corporate taxes to 15 percent to get the economy moving again, and he's targeted a plan for five percent per year economic growth over the next decade. Tim Pawlenty has the most detailed and specific economic plan of any of the candidates." The Tea Party leader says Pawlenty's experience impressed her most. "Gov. Pawlenty has real world executive experience in achieving measurable and sustainable results." 

Coming Wednesday: A one on one interview with Governor Tim Pawlenty. 

jfredericks@beaconcast.com or call 678-481-6252

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