Gov. Tim Pawlenty, in Washington, D.C., for a governor's conference, declined to join the growing Republican chorus that's been criticizing President Obama for the federal government's response to the massive oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.
In an interview broadcast today, the presumed 2012 presidential candidate told ABC News that officials are doing the best they can -- and that he doesn't believe the spill should derail future offshore drilling (another topic the GOP has been using to beat up Obama).
According to the interview transcript, here's what Pawlenty said:
Regarding future drilling, he added:
