Minn.'s Pawlenty gazes south at Iowa as 2012 looms
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Associated Press - July 29, 2010 3:24 PM ET
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) - Republican Tim Pawlenty shares something important with the Iowans he's working to impress: A border.
The two-term Minnesota governor makes his latest step across state lines this weekend to campaign for Iowa Republicans. It's viewed as part of Pawlenty's exploration of a 2012 presidential run.
Geographic proximity is no guarantee of success. But it can be an asset for a candidate who shares a cultural sensibility with the neighboring state - and can get there easily to be seen.
This will be Pawlenty's third Iowa trip and he has two more planned, one in August and another in October.
Iowa voters have delivered caucus wins to past neighbors Barack Obama and Walter Mondale, but also dealt crippling losses to border-state politicians.
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