MNpublius transcribes a conversation between Gov. Tim Pawlenty, once the top contender for the would-be-VP gig Sarah Palin got, and his spokesperson Brian McClung on today’s edition of the governor’s radio show:

“We don’t want you to sound like some of the political candidates where you say the economy is strong and it is not, Brian, it is not.”

How do we read this? Is it merely sour grapes from the guy John McCain passed over? Or might he be anticipating a McCain loss and doing a little preemptive distancing?

Listen to it.