It looks like Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty will be far, far away from the Minneapolis GOP fundraiser he is to co-host Monday.
Although he is listed as a co-host at a tony Republican Party fundraiser featuring Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, Pawlenty will be leaving Shanghai on Minnesota's Monday, which is actually Shanghai's Tuesday morning, continue his Asian trade mission.
"He will not be in Minneapolis because he is in Asia on a trade mission," Bruce Gordon, a Pawlenty spokesman in his state office.
Tony Sutton, GOP chair, said donors were aware that the governor wouldn't be there.
"It is pretty common practice," said Sutton, the event's co-host. The event, he said, is about carrying on Pawlenty's legacy -- and the governor doesn't need to be there to celebrate that, though he sends his regrets.
Here's the Jindal invite:
