AM.MN: Today is the first day of the rest of Tim Pawlenty’s career

Gov. Pawlenty filed papers with the Federal Election Commission today to form his new PAC, naming the people who will help propel him to become the most powerful man in the world … sorry, that should be “help him help other candidates get elected.” Team T-Paw is led by an investment banker (William Strong of Morgan Stanley) and a Washington insider (former congressman and current lobbyist Vin Weber).

Elsewhere in Minnesota news this morning … 

STATEWIDE: Home state essential for presidential win. No one can say for sure since a Minnesotan has never been elected president, but it seems like Pawlenty would need Minnesota’s vote to reach the White House. [Smart Politics]

ST. PAUL: Not quite the Governor No he claims to be. Former Gov. Arne Carlson actually used the veto stamp more than Pawlenty. [MinnPost]

UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA: Ralph Nader was here. “We have become accustomed to institutionalized criminality,” he said of modern American government.  [Minnesota Daily]

MINNEAPOLIS: Cop suits cost big. The city could have paid 23 officers with the money shelled out this year in lawsuits against the department. [KSTP-TV]

STATEWIDE: AFSCME to host first TV guv-candidate debate. Only Democrats have RSVP’d. [St. Paul Pioneer Press]

MISSISSIPPI RIVER: Divers find soggy car. No body, but the four-door Acura was covered with zebra mussels. [St. Paul Pioneer Press]