Caucus Update: "Miss Me Yet?" edition

Remember November 2010?

Tim Pawlenty was going to be our next President. 

Instead, he committed the fatalist of all flaws for 2012 Republican candidates.  He actually declared his candidacy.  (Don't believe that's the kiss of death.  Ask Rick Perry about a 'before' and 'after' comparison.  Or ask Chris Christie for the matter).

Pawlenty was cursed with being the candidate that should win.  Every pundit counted the days until T Paw caught fire.  He was more likable then Newt Gingrich, smarter than Michele Bachmann, and had a better resume than Herman Cain.

Every high schooler who lost the girl to the douchebag in English class, or every job seeker who aced the interview but never got called back knows Tim's pain.  Pawlenty was the cerebral choice, but if America made decisions using their brain and not their feelings, George W Bush wouldn't have been voted in once, let alone twice.

Still, as we know Pawlenty couldn't crack 7% in polls on his best days and he dropped out after a disappointing finish at the Ames Straw Poll.

There was no way, the ex-governor would be able to compete with the overwhelming popularity of Michele Bachmann among Iowans, the earth-shattering announcement that Rick Perry decided to throw his hat in the ring, and if those two weren't enough of a uphill battle, there was Chris Christie and Sarah Palin sitting on the fence plotting their next moves.

Of course, the campaign made a 180 turn no one expected.

- Michelle Bachmann's support in Iowa evaporated almost overnight
- People actually got to see Rick Perry in a debate and he became a punchline on SNL
-Christie and Palin decided to sit this one out

These days, pundits write op-eds about how Pawlenty would be leading if he just had stuck around.  Even T Paw himself kinda wishes he had a do over.

So, is is true?

Hardly.

In last Sunday's Register poll, respondents were asked if they would be supporting Pawlenty if he was still in the race.  Only five percent answered that they would.

When you count first and second place preferences, Pawlenty would have scored 17% which puts him in second tier territory, chasing Cain, Romney, Paul and Gingrich.

Oh well, I would have second thoughts, too if I owed $450,000 and was still on the hook for $25,000 for having his name on the South Carolina ballot.