IN IOWA TOUR (YES ALREADY) A REPUBLICAN TESTS HIS VOICE
Tim Pawlenty
"I'm very thankful for my red-hot smoking wife  the first lady of Minnesota " said Gov. Tim Pawlenty  pointing to his wife  Mary  who was standing a few feet away.
 With that  the Pawlenty road show began this weekend in Iowa  the place where presidential aspirations are born. It was Pawlenty's fifth visit in less than a year  one of many signs that he is working the state as intently as any prospective Republican presidential hopeful.
 road show began this weekend in Iowa  the place where presidential aspirations are born. It was Pawlenty's fifth visit in less than a year  one of many signs that he is working the state as intently as any prospective Republican presidential hopeful.
 While Pawlenty may not have millions of followers on Facebook like Palin or the personal wealth or name recognition of Romney  he has an invaluable form of currency here: proximity to Iowa.
 Minnesota  where he is finishing his second term as governor  borders Iowa on the north. And just like Obama  whose state adjoined Iowa on the east  Pawlenty can easily stop by  as he intends to do again next week for the Iowa State Fair.
 second term as governor  borders Iowa on the north. And just like Obama  whose state adjoined Iowa on the east  Pawlenty can easily stop by  as he intends to do again next week for the Iowa State Fair.
 Last weekend  he was surrounded by some of the state's best Republican talent. Sara Taylor Fagen  a White House political director for President George W. Bush  not only introduced Pawlenty to local activists but also was behind the wheel as she gave the Pawlentys a tour of her native northeast Iowa.
 Pawlenty  49  is presenting himself as a Main Street authentic conservative  who twice won statewide election as a Republican in a progressive state. He says Republicans need to shed the stereotype that their party is rooted solely in the country club and the board room. He mentions none of his potential rivals by name  of course  but it is not lost on Republicans that he is seeking to become an alternative to Romney.
 Pawlenty's visibility has grown in Republican circles since he was a finalist to be Sen. John McCain's running mate in 2008. Asked whether he benefited from not being chosen  Pawlenty paused for a moment and said  "It seems like Sarah Palin has done very well  having been selected."
 In addition to his Iowa trips  Pawlenty has visited New Hampshire  site of the first presidential primary  and has traveled across the country to help Republicans. He has raised more than $2.5 million for his Freedom First political action committee  some of which he is contributing to state and federal candidates.
 While Palin and Romney have made similar contributions  they have done so from afar. As Pawlenty said his goodbyes on the farm outside of Waverly  he pulled a $500 check from his pocket and presented it directly to Bill Dix  a candidate for the Iowa Senate.
 On a sultry afternoon  sweat was soaking into Pawlenty's white shirt as he spoke individually with nearly everyone in the crowd of about 100. (He positioned himself by the lunch buffet  so a handshake was an easy stop on the way to the barbecued pork  potato salad and baked beans.)
 His conversations and speeches were peppered with homespun one-liners  including the quip about his wife  which he has been telling Minnesota crowds for years.
 On why he believes Democrats have struggled creating jobs: "It's pretty tough to be pro-job and anti-business. That's like being pro-egg and anti-chicken. It doesn't work so well."
 He drew respectable applause at the picnic and a few hours later at fund-raiser for a Republican candidate in Cedar Rapids  where he had changed into a suit and tie. At each stop  he does not leave until the last hand has been shaken. But the congeniality does not mean that people will automatically sign on if he runs for president  a decision he said he would make early next year.
"I'm very thankful for my red-hot smoking wife  the first lady of Minnesota " said [TGT]pointing to [TGT] wife  Mary  who was standing a few feet away.
 With that  the Pawlenty road show began this weekend in Iowa  the place where presidential aspirations are born. It was Pawlenty's fifth visit in less than a year  one of many signs that [TGT] is working the state as intently as any prospective Republican presidential hopeful.
 road show began this weekend in Iowa  the place where presidential aspirations are born. It was Pawlenty's fifth visit in less than a year  one of many signs that [TGT] is working the state as intently as any prospective Republican presidential hopeful.
 While [TGT] may not have millions of followers on Facebook like Palin or the personal wealth or name recognition of Romney  [TGT] has an invaluable form of currency here: proximity to Iowa.
 Minnesota  where [TGT] is finishing [TGT] second term as governor  borders Iowa on the north. And just like Obama  whose state adjoined Iowa on the east  [TGT] can easily stop by  as [TGT] intends to do again next week for the Iowa State Fair.
 second term as governor  borders Iowa on the north. And just like Obama  whose state adjoined Iowa on the east  [TGT] can easily stop by  as [TGT] intends to do again next week for the Iowa State Fair.
 Last weekend  [TGT] was surrounded by some of the state's best Republican talent. Sara Taylor Fagen  a White House political director for President George W. Bush  not only introduced [TGT] to local activists but also was behind the wheel as she gave the Pawlentys a tour of her native northeast Iowa.
 Pawlenty  49  is presenting himself as a Main Street authentic conservative  who twice won statewide election as a Republican in a progressive state. He says Republicans need to shed the stereotype that their party is rooted solely in the country club and the board room. He mentions none of his potential rivals by name  of course  but it is not lost on Republicans that he is seeking to become an alternative to Romney.
 [TGT]'s visibility has grown in Republican circles since he was a finalist to be Sen. John McCain's running mate in 2008. Asked whether he benefited from not being chosen  Pawlenty paused for a moment and said  "It seems like Sarah Palin has done very well  having been selected."
 In addition to his Iowa trips  Pawlenty has visited New Hampshire  site of the first presidential primary  and has traveled across the country to help Republicans. He has raised more than $2.5 million for his Freedom First political action committee  some of which he is contributing to state and federal candidates.
 While Palin and Romney have made similar contributions  they have done so from afar. As Pawlenty said his goodbyes on the farm outside of Waverly  he pulled a $500 check from his pocket and presented it directly to Bill Dix  a candidate for the Iowa Senate.
 On a sultry afternoon  sweat was soaking into Pawlenty's white shirt as he spoke individually with nearly everyone in the crowd of about 100. (He positioned himself by the lunch buffet  so a handshake was an easy stop on the way to the barbecued pork  potato salad and baked beans.)
 His conversations and speeches were peppered with homespun one-liners  including the quip about his wife  which he has been telling Minnesota crowds for years.
 On why he believes Democrats have struggled creating jobs: "It's pretty tough to be pro-job and anti-business. That's like being pro-egg and anti-chicken. It doesn't work so well."
 He drew respectable applause at the picnic and a few hours later at fund-raiser for a Republican candidate in Cedar Rapids  where he had changed into a suit and tie. At each stop  he does not leave until the last hand has been shaken. But the congeniality does not mean that people will automatically sign on if he runs for president  a decision he said he would make early next year.