Hometown speech leads off busy Pawlenty week

Gov. Tim Pawlenty has bookend speeches before large audiences this week - one in Minnesota, one not.

The soon-departing governor was scheduled to give the keynote speech Monday night to a local offshoot of the national Heritage Foundation think tank. The Heritage Foundation describes itself as a group that promotes free enterprise, limited government and a strong national defense.

On Friday, he's the featured speaker at a Tennessee Republican Party dinner.

The potential 2012 presidential candidate will also venture to Oklahoma on Tuesday to campaign with GOP gubernatorial candidate Mary Fallin.

(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)