What a disappointment, but not a total shock. Alexander Burns of POLITICO reports:
Former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty endorsed Mitt Romney for president Monday, praising his onetime rival for his "leadership ability" and the "depth and scope of [his] private-sector experience."
“I believe he’s going to be our party’s nominee," Pawlenty said on "Fox and Friends," predicting Romney would be a "transformational and great president."
Less than a month after ending his own White House bid, Pawlenty was in sync with the Romney campaign’s message on everything from jobs to health care, to Social Security and Rick Perry.
Asked how he could endorse a candidate who he once mocked as the author of "Obamneycare," Pawlenty said he’d spoken about health care with Romney and concluded: "Mitt Romney is 100 percent dedicated and committed to repealing Obamacare."
Defending Romney’s jobs record as governor of Massachusetts, Pawlenty said Romney had "great success when it comes to growing jobs and the economy," citing his time in business and leading the Salt Lake City Oympics.
It would seem the “Romney-lite” description really was accurate. So with this endorsement Pawlenty also becomes Romney’s national co-chair. I highly doubt many of his former Iowa staff and early supporters, from what I know of them, will join him in that endorsement.