Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty has made no secret of his future political aspirations. His hopes were temporarily dashed when John McCain tapped Alaska Governor Sarah Palin to be his vice presidential running mate last year, leaving the ambitious midwestern Republican to cool his heels for awhile. The former lawyer and Evangelical Christian got his first national exposure when he served as chairman of the National Governors Association from 2007 to 2008.
That has all changed today when Pawlenty submitted papers to the Federal Election Commission to launch a political action committee that will be co-chaired by William H. Strong, vice chairman of Morgan Stanley, and former Minnesota congressman Vin Weber. The Freedom First PAC will dole out financial support to candidates and give the Minnesota politician the organizational support to promote his “innovative, conservative message.”
In a statement, Pawlenty said, “Right now, our freedoms are being challenged on many fronts. This organization is dedicated to putting freedom first again in America. By helping candidates and translating our ideas into policies that everyone can relate to and support, we can turn back the growth of Washington and renew the promise of freedom.”
Weber said, “There’s a big debate about the role of government and personal freedom raging at the moment, and I’m excited to help promote fresh new ideas, and new leaders. Given Tim’s successful record in Minnesota, he’s in a unique position to harness that energy and help other candidates.”
The 48-year-old announced on June 2, 2009 that he would not seek re-election for a third term–immediately leading to speculation that he had a presidential bid up his sleeve. He is married to lawyer and former district court judge Mary Pawlenty. They have two daughters, Anna and Mara. See family photos here.
In the meantime, Sarah Palin has fast-tracked the penning of her memoir Going Rogue: An American Life, which is due out on November 17. It is believed that she will use the book as a platform for repackaging herself and her message. Advance sales of the HarperCollins 400-page collaboration with author Lynn Vincent have put her squarely at the top of the best-seller list.
View a photo of Minnesota’s First Couple below – click to expand. See Pawlenty’s video announcement at bottom of this post.