No great surprise but still, perhaps, a boost.

Republican Gov. Tim Pawlenty is using his political action committee to support Republican state Rep. Randy Demmer's bid to oust U.S. Rep. Tim Walz, a Democrat from southeastern Minnesota. Demmer received his party's endorsement over the weekend.

The nod comes with a financial lift -- a donation from Pawlenty's Freedom First PAC and a link on Pawlenty's Web site encouraging others to support Demmer. He needs the cash help. As a Saturday Star Tribune story noted, "Whoever wins the GOP endorsement will get badly needed help from the party in raising money. Walz has nearly $600,000 in cash on hand after raising more than $1 million. Demmer has raised just $71,592 and has $19,424 cash left after expenses."

Walz handily won re-election two years ago, besting Republican Brian Davis with 63 percent of the vote to Davis' 33 percent.