Asked this morning if there is any hope for movement in the Vikings quest for a new stadium, Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty said:

"There's going to have to be a reconciliation of these two competing forces: The Vikings have made it clear they don't want to stay in the Metrodome and won't stay in the Metrodome and the state of Minnesota and the people of Minnesota don't want to lose the Vikings. So we've got to figure out a way of solving the problem but we can't put it ahead of other priorities and needs and we have to do that in a way that is consistent an appropriate public policy and that may not mean public funding. You know, we've got a lot of people say that's not a priority, it shouldn't involve public dollars and the like so we'll see. But it's certainly not something that's on the front burner when we are facing all these other economic challenges and needs and the need to provide jobs in the state."

Pawlenty was asked if he would support a proposal from University of Minnesota regent Dean Johnson, a former DFL state Senate Majority Leader and GOP state Senate Minority Leader, to raise a one-tenth of one percent sales tax statewide to fund a new Vikings stadium. He said:

"We sure appreciate regent Johnson's continuing public service and hope that he's thriving over at the University of Minnesota and the hallowed halls of the University but: NO."

Earlier in the day, a caller to the governor's WCCO radio show asked Pawlenty about the possibility that revenue from a new state-run casino could fund a new Vikings stadium. Pawlenty said he'd like to keep the Vikings here but there's no support for using gaming to fund a stadium.

"There just isn't support for that at the legislature and we've said we wouldn't go down that road again either," Pawlenty said.

His spokesman and radio sidekick Brian McClung said that would only change if different lawmakers are elected.

"It is one of those issues at the Legislature, both on the left and on the right, there is significant opposition," McClung said. "For people that support that idea, that concept, you've got to get involved in your local legislative races. It is one of those issues. This is really a grassroots thing. If you want that kind of change you have to elect different people to the Legislature."

Meanwhile, the American Conservative says Pawlenty may end in "a bit of a bind" because of the stadium debate:

Certainly he doesn't want the Vikings to leave the state on his watch so he's on board with building a new facility, but he's not offering any solutions on how to pay for it. If new taxes are the only way it gets built, will the Club for Growth forgive him because it was all to pay for a new football stadium?