Former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty is rising on the list of potential running mates for Mitt Romney. But he's not No. 1.

Former Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty told ABC that he submitted 'a bunch of' tax returns to Mitt Romney's presidential campaign while being considered as a possible running mate. Pawlenty says he hopes the selection of Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wisc.) will refocus attention on issues instead of what Pawlenty called 'shiny objects' such as tax returns. Pawlenty called Romney's choice of Ryan 'terrific.'

If Mitt Romney is looking for a vice-presidential nominee that might also bring along votes from their home state, Tim Pawlenty might be a poor choice. So says the New York Times, which does a deep analysis on what it would actually take for Minnesota to go red in a presidential election for the first time since 1972. The key -- according to Times writer Michah Cohen -- is Blue Earth County.

Former Gov. Tim Pawlenty has been quiet since he dropped from the presidential race, but he's back on the campaign trail, appearing at a New Hampshire rally Sunday with Mitt Romney.

Former Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty has not ruled out the number two spot on a Mitt Romney presidential ticket. But Pawlenty says he's told Romney's staff he can serve the campaign best as a volunteer and surrogate, not as the vice-presidential candidate.

That's down from nearly a half-million dollars reported in an earlier campaign finance filing. After dropping out of the race, Minnesota's former Republican governor threw his support behind Mitt Romney, who helped pay down Pawlenty's debt.

During a speech at the University of Minnesota Monday, the former Minnesota governor continued to deny any interest of being Mitt Romney's presidential running mate. However, the Star Tribune reports Tim Pawlenty hasn't ruled out running for U.S. Senate or governor in 2014.

Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney appears to be in the final stages of deciding his vice presidential running mate, with speculation growing that he has narrowed his list to three: Ohio Sen. Rob Portman, former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty and Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal.