Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty will spend two days each in Iowa and New Hampshire during an upcoming tour to promote his forthcoming book, according to details put out Friday by his political action committee.
Excerpts of "Courage to Stand" and details of the corresponding rollout tour were announced as the Jan. 11 release date approaches for the biography of the likely 2012 Republican presidential candidate.
The released excerpts lean heavily on his upbringing in the meatpacking town of South St. Paul. Pawlenty writes about getting used to the stench of rotting meat when helping his father clean truck trailers that carried beef.
"When a job needs doing, get it done. Plow through; never give up. Keep moving forward," Pawlenty writes about the lessons he took from the unenviable task, relaying how he "tossed my cookies" on at least one occasion.
After the book's release, Pawlenty begins his tour in New York with appearances on TV programs such as Comedy Central's "The Daily Show" and ABC's "The View," and with a National Press Club speech in Washington. His multi-state tour includes late-January stops in early presidential voting states New Hampshire and Iowa. Pawlenty will also sign books in Florida, Minnesota, Ohio and Texas.
Political memoirs are standard for presidential hopefuls, and they offer candidates an excuse to travel the country to introduce themselves to a broader audience on their own terms.
Among the Republicans sizing up 2012 campaigns, Pawlenty joins former Govs. Sarah Palin of Alaska, Mike Huckabee of Arkansas and Mitt Romney of Massachusetts with books on store shelves. Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich is also promoting a book.
Pawlenty has said to expect his decision on the campaign by March.
