Pawlenty’s ‘Isolationist’ Dig Signals Republican Security Split

When former Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty gave a foreign policy speech this week, he didn’t limit his criticism to the man whose job he’s seeking, President Barack Obama. He also called out fellow Republicans.

Pawlenty, who’s seeking his party’s presidential nomination, said some Republicans “seem to be trying to outbid the Democrats in appealing to isolationist sentiments.”

While Pawlenty didn’t name names, his comments underscored a division on national security among the rival candidates, as in the rest of the party, that is helping shape the primary. That’s alarming some Republicans and may hinder their efforts to challenge Obama on the issue.