Star-Tribune: Pawlenty's rightward shift

After crafting a moderate image during his two terms in office, Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R-Minn.) is moving hard to the right, the Minneapolis Star-Tribune reports.

In a profile of the state's governor (and possible presidential candidate), Minnesota's largest paper takes a look at some of Pawlenty's recent stands--defunding ACORN, calling the death panel claim "legitimate"--and comes to a stark conclusion:

For two terms as governor, Pawlenty worked to cast himself in the public eye as a conservative with one foot planted in the political center -- a strategy that attracted the statewide support crucial to his close wins in Minnesota.

Now widely believed to be testing a potential presidential run, Pawlenty is making public statements and taking stands likely to gain him some notice by the conservatives who will determine which candidate will rise from the GOP pack as their nominee.