Former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, left, discusses his endorsement of Mitt Romney, right, during a news conference in North Charleston, S.C., Sept. 12, 2011.
/ Bruce SmithFormer Gov. Tim Pawlenty, R-Minn.
Age: 51
Education:
B.A. in political science, University of Minnesota, 1983
J.D., University of Minnesota Law, 1986
Previous elected office:
Eagan Minnesota City Council 1989-1993
Minnesota House of Representatives 1993-2003
Majority Leader of the Minnesota House of Representatives 1999-2003
Governor of Minnesota 2003-2011
Hometown:
St. Paul, Minn.
Family:
Wife: Mary Anderson.
Children: Mara (b. 1996) and Anna (b. 1993).
Something you might not know about Pawlenty:
Pawlenty's mother died of cancer when he was 16.
He originally wanted to be a dentist.
He's the only member of his family to graduate from college.
Pawlenty enjoys practical jokes. He pulled down the pants of Ohio House Speaker Steve Sviggum during a 2001 softball game.
A voice from his past:
College friend Andy Tanick recalls playing fantasy football with Pawlenty. "He would always lose," Tanick told CBS News. "He called me, at that point I was at his former law firm, and he asked me to do some pre-research if [fantasy football] would constitute gambling and I said 'in your case it's not because you're not winning.'"
Strengths:
Pawlenty is both socially and fiscally conservative. He claims to have balanced Minnesota's budget every year as governor while still passing tax cuts. Also, his blue-collar roots appeal to the broader GOP base and work as a counter balance to Romney's wealth.
Drawbacks:
Pawlenty has been accused of being bland as well as too nice for politics. In addition, his detractors like to mention that he left behind a $6.2 billion deficit in Minnesota. During his presidential run in 2011, he criticized Romney by coining the term "Obamneycare" to describe the similarities between Romney's Massachusetts health care law and Obama's Affordable Care Act.
Net Worth:
Pawlenty was worth between $470,000 and $1.6 million as of 2011 according to the Center for Responsive Politics.
Written by Joseph Van Dusen
Would the birther(s) OK Bobby Jindal or Rubio if one of them were Romney's pick, or is this a partisan thing? I think if one of them is the pick and with all they have done with Obama, I think it would only be fair that either of them would or should require a good LOOK. so please Trump, Joe Arpaio and Orly do your due diligence.
Ironically, most people who vote for Romney will never be rich like him and still more ironic, if Romney wins, his objective will be to make the rich richer at the expense of the people who voted for him.
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It's your vote...go ahead, bit off your nose so spite your face.