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Tom Scheck
St. Paul, Minn.

Pawlenty won't run for U.S. Senate in 2012

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Former Gov. Tim Pawlenty, who dropped his bid to run for president in 2012, will not challenge DFL Sen. Amy Klobuchar in 2012.

Minnesota GOP Chair Tony Sutton was actively recruiting Pawlenty to challenge the first-term senator after Pawlenty announced he wasn't running again. Pawlenty's spokesman, Alex Conant, confirmed to MPR News that Pawlenty won't run against Klobuchar.

The Associated Press first reported the news.

"I don't know what I will be doing next," Pawlenty said in an email to The Associated Press. "However, I will not be running against Amy in 2012."

Former state Rep. Dan Severson is the only Republican to announce a run against Klobuchar. He lost his bid for Minnesota Secretary of State in 2010.

Klobuchar is considered a formidable candidate. She has solid approval ratings and more than $3 million in the bank.