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From today's Morning Hot Dish:

Former Gov. Tim Pawlenty has kept a low, low, low profile in Minnesota since dropping out of the presidential race in August.

But Minnesotans will see and hear from their former leader this week.

Today his official portrait will be unveiled at a private/media event at the Capitol at 7 p.m., and Tuesday he will be a guest of MPR's midday and on "Meet the Press" as a surrogate for Mitt Romney next Sunday. The portrait will be hung for public viewing on Tuesday as well.

Although the portrait artist has a photo posted on his web site of a Pawlenty portrait, that painting, which features a close up of the governor's face, will not be the official portrait, Hot Dish is told.