Pawlenty heads to Iowa as signs point to 2012 run

Associated Press

Last update: November 7, 2009 - 9:54 AM

ST. PAUL, Minn. - Republican Tim Pawlenty is off on his first trip to Iowa as a probable but not-yet-declared presidential candidate.

The Minnesota governor was lined up for a keynote speech Saturday at the GOP's annual "Leadership for Iowa" dinner.

Pawlenty has been making all the moves of a presidential candidate. He's raising money to distribute to other Republicans, stumping for candidates far from Minnesota and appearing frequently on cable news shows.

Pawlenty says he's focused on helping his party in the 2010 election and he has declined to publicly discuss his possible presidential ambitions for now.

Minnesota Democratic Party leaders have accused Pawlenty of putting his own interests ahead of Minnesota's and say the Iowa trip underscores it.

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