The presidential election may have just ended, but it’s never too early to begin speculating on who might lead the Republicans from the electoral wilderness in 2012. While most chatter in recent days has focused on Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, Gov. Tim Pawlenty is among the contenders. He places second (behind Jindal, of course) on Chris Cillizza’s list of GOP governors to watch:

2. Tim Pawlenty: After being edged out in the veepstakes, T-Paw’s profile faded somewhat over the final few months of the presidential campaign. But, the reasons he was an attractive potential vice presidential pick — two-term governor of a swing state, up-from-the-bootstraps personal story, an economic populist by nature — also are those that make him an appealing blueprint for Republicans around the country to copy. Watch to see if Pawlenty emerges as a leading economic voice for the party over the coming months; if he does, expect him to be a candidate when 2012 rolls around.

Of course Pawlenty will face a dilemma about how to continue boosting his national reputation over the next two years before the presidential sweepstakes starts to crank back up. Most significantly, does he run for re-election in 2010?