DNC launches new ad against Pawlenty

As the president prepares to outline his health care plan in Minnesota, his party is launching a new, tough advertisement targeting the state's governor.

"Tim Pawlenty: In the extreme" is the Democratic National Committee's (DNC) latest effort to cast doubt on the Minnesota governor, a vocal opponent of President Barack Obama's health plan and a potential White House aspirant. The nearly-two minute spot, which asserts Pawlenty is "spreading lies" about health reforms, includes a series of the governor's previous television that prove he is "way out of the mainstream," the ad stipulates.

The spot also links Pawlenty to Bob McDonnell, the GOP's gubernatorial candidate in Virginia, as well as former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, concluding that Pawlenty campaigns for "extremists."

The Republican National Committee, however, quickly called the advertisement a distraction.

“Once again, the Democrats are desperately trying to shift attention away from their extraordinarily unpopular health care plan – especially on a day when the President is bringing his traveling road show to Minnesota in an attempt to sell his floundering government-run health care proposal," RNC Spokesman LeRoy Coleman told CNN.

"Minnesotans, however, aren’t fooled by the rhetoric. The President’s government-run health care plan would increase costs, increase taxes, increase the deficit and reduce health care choice and quality,” Coleman added.