At CPAC Pawlenty goes after Obama  Tim PawlentyTim Pawlenty
speaks at the Conservative Political Action Conference in
Washington, Friday, Feb. 11, 2011. (AP Photo)  From MPR’s Brett
Neely and Mark Zdechlik:  (Washington) -Former Gov. Tim Pawlenty
rallied the Republican faithful in an address at today’s
Conservative Political Action Conference in Washington, DC, as
he explores a potential run for the White House in 2012.
Freshman Rep. Sean Duffy, R-WI, introduced Pawlenty to the
packed to capacity crowd, calling the potential GOP presidential
candidate, “a great Midwesterner with a friendly disposition.”
Pawlenty’s speech pointed to his record leading Minnesota as a
guide to his conservative credentials, while also taking a dig
at the state’s liberal lions.  “I come from the state of
McCarthy, Mondale, Humphrey, Wellstone and now United States
Sen. Al Franken,” Pawlenty said to the crowd, who began to boo.
He continued, “But we cut government in Minnesota and if we can
do it there, we can do it anywhere.”  P