IN THE RING

Pawlenty: 'I'm Running for President'

Former MN gov. announces on CNN show.

If there are points for being first, we have a new GOP frontrunner: Former Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty told CNN’s Piers Morgan in an interview airing Tuesday that he is, in fact, running to be the GOP’s 2012 presidential candidate, making him the first contender to announce it. “I’m running for president,” Pawlenty said. “I’m not putting my hat in the ring rhetorically or ultimately for vice president. I’m focused on running for president.” Pawlenty, along with former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney, has already formed his exploratory committee. Pawlenty's staff says he'll have a more official announcement later in the spring.