Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty's attempt to use gaming to patch up holes in the state's budget is being treated a major failure.
First, Pawlenty (R) threatened to expand non-Indian gaming if tribes didn't renegotiate their compacts and share $350 million with the state. When that failed, he turned to three tribes and offered them an urban casino. But when that didn't get enough support, he added a non-Indian race track to the deal. All along, Pawlenty failed to see the flaws in his plans, observers and participants said. He appeared in radio ads that criticized tribes, a move that some say cost Republicans some seats in the state House. His inclusion of the non-Indian track turned off the tribes that were interested in the urban casino. Get the Story: