By Jeremy Herb and Baird Helgeson
Former Gov. Tim Pawlenty will announce he is forming an exploratory committee to run for president Monday afternoon, Pawlenty told supporters Monday morning.
"We're filing the paperwork today to form an exploratory committee to run for president of the United States," Pawlenty said on a call to supporters Monday morning, which Politico dialed into. "It's not the full announcement, but, assuming the exploratory committee goes well, that will come soon enough."
The new committee, which will be based in Minneapolis, will allow Pawlenty to raise money for the national bid he has been eyeing for more than a year, sources confirmed.
Pawlenty is not expected to be coy about his intentions, a source said.
Many candidates form exploratory committees to intensify the will-they-or-won't-they buzz. It becomes a highly-publicized step in the often heavily choreographed march toward a presidential announcement.
Pawlenty is in, the source said.
"There's may be a formal announcement down the road, in as little as a few weeks or so, but Tim is going to be more clear about his intentions," the source said.
Pawlenty spokesman Alex Conant told reporters Monday morning that Pawlenty is making a "major announcement exclusive to supporters on Facebook" at 2 p.m. CDT today.
