By Mike Kaszuba and Baird Helgeson

Gov. Tim Pawlenty said Monday he was not interested in expanding gambling, seemingly contradicting the comments of a key state senator who told reporters last week that the governor had pledged to do so.

"We've said, and I'll repeat, we're not interested in going down that road again, and I've said that many times," the governor said. "I just don't think that expanding gambling is the way to go for Minnesota. Sen. [Dick] Day's comments, I'm not sure what he's referring to."

At a press conference last week Day, a former Senate Minority Leader, announced he was resigning his Senate seat, and would become president of Racino Now. A longtime Republican, Day said he would continue his push as a lobbyist to get the Legislature to expand gambling -- mainly by installing slot machines -- at the state's two horse racing tracks.

Day described Pawlenty at the press conference as "one of my best friends", and surprised reporters by saying that the governor had recently told him he would sign racino legislation if the House and Senate passed it. The governor unsuccessfully pushed for casinos at the Canterbury Park horse racing track in 2005, but has generally backed away from such proposals since.

But Day last week left little doubt he thought Pawlenty would support him. "Will the governor sign it? Yes. He said he would sign it. I've discussed that with him," Day told reporters.

"The governor has always been nervous about gambling," the senator added. "[But] the other day at breakfast is when I said, 'Hey, will you sign it if we get [a bill] to you?' He said, 'Yes, I will.'

"I can assure you that was true," said Day.