It is clear that Senator McCain will need a solid economic conservative on the ticket to allay misgivings about Senator “I don’t really understand economics” McCain.  As Bob Novak writes, it is equally clear that Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty seems determined not to fit the bill.

Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty raised doubts about his likelihood to become Sen. John McCain’s vice presidential candidate on Jan. 30 when he joined with Democrat Gov. Ed Rendell in support of the Senate Democrat leadership’s economic-stimulus package, which is opposed by President Bush.

Behind the scenes, Pawlenty has been opposed on the stimulus package by conservative Republican Govs. Haley Barbour of Mississippi, Mitch Daniels of Indiana, Mark Sanford of South Carolina and Rick Perry of Texas.

Pawlenty and Sanford have been the two sitting governors most prominently mentioned as McCain’s running mate. Pawlenty’s activity in Washington lobbying for what conservatives call more handouts undermines him for vice president.