Former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, gives thumbs up after speaking at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in Washington, Friday, Feb. 11, 2011. / AP Photo/Alex Brandon
WASHINGTON (Detroit Free Press) - Former Minnesota governor and well-known Mitt Romney surrogate Tim Pawlenty declined Wednesday to handicap his or anyone else's chances of being selected as Romney's running mate, saying all will be made clear in time.
Pawlenty, who ran for president before jumping out of the race and throwing his support behind Romney, also said he wouldn't discuss the timing of the vice presidential pick, which could come soon. He spoke to the Free Press by phone while making a swing through Michigan on behalf of the Romney campaign Wednesday.
"He's got a lot of great people to pick from," said Pawlenty of Romney and the vice-presidential sweepstakes. "He's got nothing but very good people to pick from."
Asked about President Barack Obama's resurgence in some polls, Pawlenty said Michigan remains a winnable state for Romney - who was born and raised in Oakland County but later left to become governor of Massachusetts. He said it will come down to the selection of currently undecided voters who, for whatever reason, aren't ready to throw their support behind the incumbent Democrat.
"Those undecideds will break significantly toward Gov. Romney," he said,
Pawlenty was scheduled to attend events in Jackson and in Kalamazoo County on behalf of the campaign on Wednesday.