Almanac: At the Capitol

Gov. Tim Pawlenty went global today officially announcing Minnesota is joining the ONE campaign  to end worldwide poverty and disease.  Pawlenty said his administration was in the planning stages of a possible trade mission to Africa.  The governor noted that Sens. Obama and McCain have been engaged in the ONE campaign.  Pawlenty, however was not willing to engage on any of the vice presidential talk.  He did confirm that he will travel to Ohio and Pennsylvania this weekend.  He doesn't know yet if he'll be going to Denver on behalf of McCain.

For about the past month Pawlenty has been his old self again with the press corps (and kids who he never fails to impress):  Laid back, sarcastic, calm.  I've been writing and saying for about a month now that it seems like Pawlenty knows if he'll be #2--not sure if he's it or not.   Ever since he visited McCain campaign headquarters and said he'll no longer speculate on VP talk he has seemed to mellow out.  Today, while he would not take VP questions, he gave us a lot of helpful quotes about the upcoming RNC.  He said he's been in many meetings the past week particularly on security and the "level of preparedness is good...we're ready." He also spoke at length about how the convention will boost Minnesota's future tourism and convention business.  Pawlenty is scheduled to address the convention on Thursday.  To many that means he won't be addressing the convention as a VP candidate.

Sen. Amy Klobuchar was also at the press conference in support of the ONE campaign.  Afterwards, I talked to her about her plans to address the DNC not just once but twice.  She said her first talk on Monday will focus on "ethics reforms" and Tuesday with other women her message will be "protecting the family checkbook."