Pawlenty for GOP candidate in 2012?

In a move bound to fuel fresh speculation as to his longer term political ambitions, Governor Tim Pawlenty of Minnesota confirmed today that he will not be seeking reelection to his current position when his term ends in 2010.

At a time when Minnesota is already the subject of much attention because of the ongoing legal battle between Democrat Al Franken and Republican Norm Coleman to fill the vacant seat in the US Senate, Governor Pawlenty's announcement at the State Capitol in Saint Paul is likely to attract yet more interest from a national audience in the politics of a state that also boasts the sometimes controversial Congresswoman Michele Bachmann amongst it's ranks. At one time believed to be a possible running mate for John McCain in last year's Presidential election, Governor Pawlenty has frequently been mentioned as a potential candidate for the Republican ticket in the 2012 contest. Indeed, John King of CNN has reported from sources amongst conservatives in Washington that the Governor is giving serious consideration to such a run. Elected in 2002 as the successor to Jesse Ventura, the one time member of the Minnesota House of Representatives has recently been embroiled in arguments with DFL legislators over the budget deficit faced by the state. Using his powers of veto over the proposals made by his opponents, the Governor has sought to overcome the budget deficit without recourse to tax increases. Such a move has led some in the opposition to accuse Governor Pawlenty of giving his own ambitions for national office priority over the interests of the people who elected him. It may still be early days in the race amongst Republicans for the right to challenge President Obama in 2012 but Governor Pawlenty may just have made the first meaningful move in that very race.