The Hill News

Tim Pawlenty wondered aloud Sunday if Fox News pundit Bill O’Reilly is using the “race card” for claiming that the GOP White House candidate and former Minnesota governor is “vanilla.”

O’Reilly recently said that Pawlenty “has to get a little Trump in him,” and claimed “Haagen-Dazs can put his picture on vanilla” and that Pawlenty is “invisible.”

Asked about the comment on Fox News Sunday, Pawlenty joked, “Is he playing the race card on me?” and then pivoted to make a pitch for his candidacy that touted his lack of comedic aspirations.

“I am not running for comedian-in-chief or entertainer-in-chief. If people want that they should go to the ballpark or [a] Broadway play or a Las Vegas show,” Pawlenty said.

“We have got a country that is in serious trouble, it is sinking, we need people who are serious, thoughtful, seasoned leaders, who are willing to address the real challenges with real specifi! c solutions,” he said.