Former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, who dropped out of the presidential race in August, smilingly sat through an interview during which he is told: "You are a lot more perfect than the guys still in there."

Last Word host Lawrence O'Donnell, who started the show with multiple clips showing his Pawlenty fandom, repeatedly pushed Pawlenty to admit that he is better than any candidate still running. Pawlenty deflected.

"It didn't work. We've got to move on to the future," Pawlenty said.

O'Donnell moved on to insist that Pawlenty would be the best vice presidential candidate and Pawlenty said: "You are killing me. Lawrence, you are killing me. You should just take a dagger and put it through my political heart."

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