Ben Smith: Former Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty will file paperwork to organize his bid for the White House, he told supporters on a conference call.
"We're filing the paperwork today to form an exploratory committee to run for president of the United States," he said on the call, to which POLITICO dialed in. He said the committee would allow him to take the "initial steps" to run for president.
The bid, to be announced on Facebook later today, will be headquartered in Minneapolis.
An aide, Phil Musser, asked donors to wait until April 1 to contribute to Pawlenty's campaign in order to avoid the impression that he'd tried and failed to raise money in his first quarter.
"With all due respect for President Obama, I think he's taken this country in the wrong direction," Pawlenty told supporters. "This is the greatest nation this world has ever known and it's in trouble and it needs a new direction and it needs new leadership."Pawlenty is now the second person to set up an exploratory committee for 2012. I think his timing is good. Despite his open quest for the White House and all his TEA Party like rhetoric, Pawlenty remains painfully uninspiring. Getting into the the race first might just be the thing to bring some much needed attention to his candidacy. If not, he may find himself hopeless lost in the shuffle.
For me, a Pawlenty candidacy is a non starter. His support for a regional cap and trade scheme and other RINO activities puts him in the Romney league for me. 2012 is no time for 11th hour converts to conservatism.
Via: Memeorandum
Via: Tim Pawlenty's Facebook Page
Via: Ben Smith
Via: Left Coast Rebel