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Thune To Visit GOP In Pawlenty’s Home State Of Minnesota

Sen. John Thune (R-SD) and Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R-MN)

Sen. John Thune (R-SD), one of the many Republican politicians viewed as being a potential presidential candidate, is now set to make a trip to the stomping ground of another possible contender: Gov. Tim Pawlenty’s home state of Minnesota.

As the Star Tribune reports, Thune will be headlining the Minnesota GOP’s Lincoln Reagan dinner, this coming February 25.

Thune shot to national prominence in 2004, when he defeated Senate Democratic Leader Tom Daschle, in a narrow and hard-fought race in a red state. He was just re-elected unopposed in 2010.

Pawlenty served two terms as governor in Dem-leaning Minnesota. He did not seek re-election this past November, and was narrowly succeeded by Democrat Mark Dayton. He is now set to embark on a book tour, apparently in order to test his national appeal.

2012 elections, John Thune, Pres '12, Tim Pawlenty
Eric Kleefeld

Eric Kleefeld joined TPM as an intern for the final months of the 2006 midterm elections, and then kept showing up for work. His other interests include guitars, old comic books and the politics of various English-speaking countries.

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