Republican Gov. Tim Pawlenty has been trying to decide whether the state should accept $263 million in federal Medicaid money.

Pawlenty's in luck if he's been wondering: What would Mark Dayton do?

The DFL gubernatorial candidate called on Pawlenty, a possible presidential candidate and steady critic of big government spending, to accept the money.

"That money is essential to maintaining the health of low-income and elderly citizens, and it's essential to maintaining the health of our care providers, particularly those in rural Minnesota, who are facing severe financial hardships," Dayton said in a statement. "If governor Pawlenty chooses not to accept those desperately needed funds, he will demonstrate once again that he is willing to sacrifice Minnesota's best interests for his political ambitions. Minnesota deserves better."