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Pawlenty trending up in Veepstakes

Former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty is rising on the list of potential running mates for Mitt Romney. But he's not No. 1.
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Former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty is near the top -- but not No. 1 -- on the ever-shifting list of likely vice presidential running mates for Mitt Romney. Conventional wisdom says Sen. Rob Portman, R-Ohio, has the inside track for the moment.

Pawlenty is getting more attention than conventional wisdom holds, and has momentum, according to National Journal. Pawlenty was once angling for a spot in Romney's Cabinet but now he's sounding like he wants the No. 2 job, according to National Journal's Veepstakes Power Rankings.

PredictWise, which aggregates a variety of opinions, says Pawlenty is third on the list, behind Portman and Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla.

Meanwhile, Pawlenty has a new gig on the board of Smart Sand, a frac-sand company.

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