GOP Candidates Trade Barbs

The two Republican presidential candidates with Minnesota roots exchanged rhetorical fire on Sunday over their records in office.

The spat started when former Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty appeared on NBC’s “Meet The Press” and called out current Congresswoman Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.) for having accomplished little during her first two terms in the House.

“I like Congresswoman Bachmann. I’ve campaigned for her, I respect her,” he said. “But her record of accomplishment in Congress is nonexistent. It’s nonexistent.”

Later, Pawlenty added “we’re not looking for folks who, you know, just have speech capabilities, we’re looking for people who can lead a large enterprise in a public setting and drive it to conclusion. I’ve done that, she hasn’t.”

Bachmann responded hours later by touting her record, though not directly attacking Pawlenty over his.

“Instead of negativity, I want to focus on my accomplishments. I have fought the cap-and-trade agenda, rather than implement it, and I will work to end cap-and-trade as President of the United States. I stood up against President Obama’s support of the $700 billion bailout rather than defend it. I was a leading voice, fighting against Obamacare and the unconstitutional individual mandates; I did not lift my voice in praise of it.”