Pawlenty to announce presidential exploratory committee this afternoon
Former Gov. Tim Pawlenty will announce the formation of a presidential exploratory committee this afternoon, the Republican said on a conference call Monday morning. The announcement will be aired live on Facebook at 2 p.m. CST.
The exploratory committee would clear the way for Pawlenty to raise money and hire campaign staff. It would require him to file formal paperwork with the Federal Election Commission.
From DC news site Politico:
“„“We’re filing the paperwork today to form an exploratory committee to run for president of the United States,” he said on the call, to which POLITICO dialed in, he said, saying the committee would allow him to take the “initial steps” to run for president. …
“„“With all due respect for President Obama, I think he’s taken this country in the wrong direction,” Pawlenty told supporters. “This is the greatest nation this world has ever known and it’s in trouble and it needs a new direction and it ned new leadership.”
Pawlenty, who has visited Iowa numerous times in the last year as he openly flirted with a presidential run, picked up the endorsement of coveted Iowa political strategist Eric Woolson earlier this month.
