059Paul Bedard reports that Gov. Tim Pawlenty is serious about a 2012 bid for the presidency. Writing on the Washington Whispers blog, Bedard cites “associates” of Pawlenty as the source for his information. The two-term Republican governor’s decision not to seek a third term has been widely viewed as an indication of his national ambitions. But Bedard provides some additional details on his plans:

Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, who has decided against running for a third term in 2010, will spend the next two years traveling the country to see if he can build enough support to run for president in 2012, according to associates. The Republican, who is expected to play up his humble roots and past in a populist bid against President Obama, will decide in 2011 if there is enough of a base on which to build his campaign. Those close to “T-Paw” said that his focus is the presidency, not a vice presidential nomination or an effort to raise his name recognition en route to a bid in 2016. When Pawlenty made his decision to stick to just two terms, it was viewed as his opening move in the 2012 campaign.

Of course Pawlenty still has 18 months left in his term. It remains uncertain how his decision to unilaterally eliminate the state’s remaining $2.7 billion deficit will play politically. Pawlenty is expected to announce the budget-cutting details this week.