Pawlenty To Officially Launch Campaign Monday

Former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R)
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He’s running for president — but can he save the planet Earth?

Former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, who previously launched a presidential exploratory committee, along with a series of action movie trailer-style campaign videos, is set to officially declare what everyone already knows: he is running for president.

The Associated Press reports:

That’s according to an adviser with direct knowledge of the plans. The adviser tells The Associated Press Pawlenty will declare his candidacy at a town hall style event in Des Moines, Iowa. The adviser disclosed the information on condition of anonymity.

Pawlenty will make the announcement in the state with the leadoff nominating caucuses and then head to Florida, New Hampshire, New York and Washington, D.C.

A Pawlenty aide confirmed the news to TPM.

Of course, Pawlenty already sort of let the cat out of the (clear plastic) bag several weeks ago, in an interview with Piers Morgan, when he was asked about whether he would accept the vice-presidential slot on the ticket. “I’m running for President,” he said. “I’m not putting my hat in the ring rhetorically or ultimately for Vice President. I’m focused on running for President.”

Additional reporting by Evan McMorris-Santoro.

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