Former Gov. Tim Pawlenty reaffirmed his support of Republican Gov. Scott Walker in his fight with Wisconsin state Senate Democrats on Wednesday when he said the senators who left the state should recalled.

While fellow Minnesotan Democratic Rep. Keith Ellison called Walker a "dictator" Wednesday, Pawlenty had his own harsh words for the fleeing state senators at the center of Wisconsin's public employee union battle.

Appearing on Fox News with Neil Cavuto, Pawlenty said, "The notion that they're doing their job…by not doing their job is preposterous."

He continued: "Then the first time you have something that isn't going to go your way, you skedaddle like a little ninny out of the state — it is a dereliction of duty, and they should be removed from office."

Pawlenty, who is preparing for a possible presidential run, was one of several potential 2012 candidates who declared his support for the Wisconsin governor last week.