2012 Watch: GOP needs to focus on 2010, says Pawlenty

Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R), who recently announced he won’t run for reelection and, in so doing, inserted himself into every discussion of the 2012 presidential race, said Friday that the GOP needs to focus on 2010.

In an interview with the Ripon Society, Pawlenty said it is too early to look to 2012.

“We’ve got to focus on 2010, that’s the next election cycle,” he said. “We need to make sure we have ideas that matter, that help people, that are consistent with our values and principles. So, nobody should be looking ahead to 2012, we should be focused on 2010.”

Pawlenty announced on Tuesday that he will not run for a third term as governor and left the door open to running for president in 2012.

Check out the video below.

jeremy.jacobs@digital-staging.thehill.com