The Hill News

Washington, D.C. Mayor Adrian Fenty received consolation from an unusual source after losing renomination on Tuesday: Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R).

Pawlenty, a potential 2012 candidate for president, released a statement lamenting Fenty's loss in a Democratic primary on Tuesday to D.C. Council Chairman Vincent Gray.

The Republican governor in particular said Fenty's loss was a blow to education reform, since the controversial schools chancellor the mayor had installed, Michelle Rhee, is seen as likely to resign.

"While the primary's result is disappointing for school reformers, the positive early results from the Fenty-Rhee reforms will continue to undermine the teachers' unions' false arguments against reform everywhere," Pawlenty said in a statement.

Fenty and Rhee's work on education was a key element in the Democratic Primary in Washington. While metrics of student progress showed steady gains, the pair often came in fo! r criticism for their aggressive leadership style and their willingness to clash with influential teachers' unions.

Rhee has previously suggested that she would likely resign if Gray, a critic of her work as schools chancellor, were elected. While somewhat of a controversial figure in Washington, Rhee's work has earned a smattering of positive press in national media outlets.

Pawlenty used Fenty's loss as an opportunity to hammer teachers' unions, casting his lot in with reform-minded education leaders.

"Mayor Fenty lost after the teachers' unions led a campaign against him and Michelle Rhee," he said. "Fenty's loss is further evidence that despite all their rhetoric about 'the children,' what the teachers’ unions really care about is getting more money for jobs they can't lose at schools that produce students who are not prepared to compete."

There has been some talk, too, that Fenty could pursue a bid for mayor as the Republi! can-backed candidate, since the GOP has nominated no candidate! in heav ily-Democratic Washington. Pawlenty's comment could go a long way to making the GOP seem hospitable to Fenty.