Pawlenty’s presidential support in Minnesota drops

A survey released this week by Rasmussen shows that a minority of Minnesota voters would cast a ballot for Tim Pawlenty should he get the nomination for President. Only 37 percent say they would vote for the governor, which is down from 42 percent in November. And a plurality of Minnesotans say his presidential aspirations have impacted his ability to do his job.

Forty-six percent say they would not vote for Pawlenty, and when asked whether his presidential aspirations have impacted his ability to govern, 43 percent say it’s had a negative effect.

Pawlenty’s job approval is at 53 percent — unchanged from the last survey in November.

“It’s absurdly early to be contemplating, let alone polling, the 2012 landscape,” Pawlenty spokesman Alex Conant told TPM. “Gov. Pawlenty is focused on balancing Minnesota’s budget, finishing his term strong, and helping elect Republicans in this fall’s elections.”