Pawlenty taps former FEC chairman for legal advice

Gov. Tim Pawlenty is getting some high-profile legal advice for his fledgling Freedom First political action committee. Politico’s Ben Smith reports that Michael Toner, who served as chairman of the Federal Election Commission during the final years of the Bush administration, will take on a senior role with the organization. Toner has also served as the top lawyer for the Republican National Committee and Bush’s 2000 presidential campaign.

Smith labels it a “coup” for Pawlenty to land someone with Toner’s pedigree. But in perhaps a telling mistake, Smith refers to Pawlenty as the “former Minnesota Governor.” Given how often T-Paw’s been out of the state since announcing that he won’t seek a third term, it would be easy to forget that’s he still got 15 months left in his tenure. Tomorrow he’s off to Michigan to address the state Republican party.