Speaking with Pawlenty after his speech, National Review Online asked why the governor was fine with taking just a mere 9-iron to the Obama agenda. Why not a driver, or at least a 3-wood?

“That’s what she used,” he laughed. “We’ve got to stay consistent.”

He also acknowledged the loud cheers for his section on national security. NRO asked if this is the winning issue for the GOP in 2010, at least in terms of enthusiasm from the base. “It’s always going to be front and center, and should be,” he said.