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By Alexander Burns (@aburnspolitico, aburns@politico.com )


IT'S TIM PAWLENTY DAY - Former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty is going into the biggest media cycle of his not-yet-official presidential campaign, appearing on ABC's "Good Morning America" and "The View" as his new book - "Courage to Stand" - hits the shelves. Pawlenty's been on a virtually non-stop media tour for the last month, first conducting a series of exit interviews with the Minnesota press corps and now turning his attention more aggressively to other regional and national outlets. Pawlenty explained the context for his charm offensive in an interview with the St. Petersburg Times: "I'm seriously considering running for president. I'm going to make that announcement in a few months ... I just finished up eight years of governor, I've had a lot of other interesting experiences and life challenges - some successes and some challenges - and you learn some things along the way. So I wanted to put that in a book and try to share it." http://bit.ly/dNVu9w


MORE - Pawlenty spoke Monday with Sean Hannity's radio show and with reporters from the New York Times. The Christian Broadcasting Network's David Brody also offered the governor a chance to introduce himself in these favorable terms: "It's [a] humble nature and blue-collar work ethic that has defined Pawlenty from the beginning. He grew up in the meat-packing town of South St. Paul, Minn., and has known tough times. 'When I was 16, my mom passed away of cancer pretty suddenly and then not long after that my dad lost his job for awhile,' he told CBN News. 'And so there was a lot of concern and worry in my family. And I remember first of all praying fervently to God for help and for some confidence and strength and to try and help get through that." http://bit.ly/dK2cgy


THE BIGGER PICTURE - This is a critical moment for Pawlenty, whose national name ID stood at 39 percent in a Gallup poll conducted last week. The good news for the Minnesotan is that the people who know him mostly like him: among voters familiar with Pawlenty, his favorability rating is 13 percentage points in positive territory. His challenge will be keeping that advantage intact while he introduces himself to larger - and potentially tougher - audiences. http://bit.ly/dUrFl5


As Missouri welcomes John Thune, Joe Lieberman courts No Labels and the long arm of the law catches up with Tom DeLay, here's POLITICO's Morning Score: your daily guide to the permanent campaign.


ARIZONA UPDATE - BREAKING OVERNIGHT - POLITICO: "President Barack Obama on Wednesday will head to Tucson, Ariz., the scene of a shooting rampage that killed six people and critically wounded Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, according to a White House official." More from ABC News: "Obama spoke [Monday] with Pima County Sheriff Clarence Dupnik, families of some of the victims, Rep. Giffords' Rabbi and two of the heroes that helped in the Arizona tragedy on Saturday. In a phone call this afternoon with Sheriff Dupnik, according to White House spokesman Nicholas Shapiro, the President 'thanked him for his department's efforts to respond to this incident and coordinate with the FBI and Director Mueller on the investigation.' Additionally the president also spoke with Patricia Maisch and Roger Salzgeber, two of the heroes from the shooting." http://abcn.ws/gYiCRq


ON THE GROUND - "State of the State Address Strikes a Sober Note" - Arizona Public Media: "The state's 50th legislative session began simply and soberly, as Republican Governor Jan Brewer delivered a short State of the State address focused on service and sacrifice. ... 'One year ago, from this very place, I told you I would serve beside you, proud to serve the people of Arizona. I said then, that public service is acting not in self-interest but on behalf of others. And I asked people to join me in the field,' said Brewer. 'Gabby Giffords did join me in the field.' Brewer recognized Daniel Hernandez, the intern and University of Arizona junior whose quick action to lift Giffords and keep pressure on her wound helped save her life. Legislators gave Hernandez a standing ovation." http://bit.ly/dGplOw


PALIN, TAKE TWO: Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin - taking criticism for having used the symbol of gun sights to mark Giffords's district on an electoral target map - attempted to respond at greater length to the shooting in an e-mail exchange with Glenn Beck. The conservative media personality read from Palin's e-mails on his radio show Monday: "I hate violence. I hate war. Our children will not have peace if politicos just capitalize on this to succeed in portraying anyone as inciting terror and violence." Beck wrote to Palin: "I want you to know you have my support. But please look into protection for your family. An attempt on you could bring the republic down." http://politi.co/ggkOTx and http://on.wsj.com/gW77Bk


PAWLENTY, CAREFUL: "In an interview Monday with reporters at The New York Times, former Gov. Tim Pawlenty of Minnesota ...defended Ms. Palin, if only to a point. 'There's no indication at present that those cross hairs, Fox News, any particular commentator or show or set of remarks or person was a motivating factor in his thoughts,' Mr. Pawlenty said of [alleged shooter Jared Lee] Loughner. When asked if he would have produced a similar map, Mr. Pawlenty said, 'I wouldn't have done it.'" http://nyti.ms/gpp1gT


THE 2012 SCORE - WHERE IN THE WORLD IS MITT ROMNEY? The former Massachusetts governor spoke with Afghan President Hamid Karzai during a visit to Kabul, about the role Pakistan plays in the Afghan war. AFP: "Romney met Monday with President Hamid Karzai in Afghanistan, where nearly 100,000 US troops are based. The former Massachusetts governor told Karzai that 'the US is well aware of terrorists' presence in Pakistan and its border regions and this is a threat to Pakistan and Afghanistan,' a statement issued by Karzai's office said. Afghan leaders charge that militants waging an insurgency against US and international targets in Afghanistan receive funds and training in Pakistan through its intelligence services. 'The situation in Pakistan is an indicator that terrorists are not only attacking Afghanistan but are causing lots of troubles for Pakistan too,' the statement quoted Romney as saying." http://bit.ly/e7OXoA TODAY - Former New Hampshire Senate candidate Ovide Lamontagne is holding the first in a series of house parties to showcase potential 2012 presidential candidates in his Manchester home. The conservative attorney - who's hosting the events under the auspices of his newly formed Granite Oath PAC - will feature former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum at the debut event this evening. Lamontagne is currently neutral in the 2012 race and has said the speaker series is designed to bring national Republicans into the kind of intimate political setting New Hampshire voters value.


COMING SOON - IOWA PARADE: The Des Moines Register's Tom Beaumont reports that former House Speaker Newt Gingrich is joining a "late-January wave of 2012 prospects [coming] to Iowa." Beaumont: "Gingrich ... plans to speak at the Iowa Renewable Fuel Association's annual summit in Des Moines on Jan. 25, aides to the Georgia Republican said. ... Gingrich is the third Republican weighing a campaign for president scheduled to visit the leadoff presidential caucus state in the final 10 days of the month. Minnesota Congresswoman Michele Bachmann, who last week said she is considering running, is scheduled to headline Iowans for Tax Relief's annual reception on Jan. 21 ... Former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty is the third." http://bit.ly/fT8rFo


AND - THUNE TO MISSOURI: The South Dakota Republican will address the state Republican Party's annual meeting on late February. PoliticoMO.com: "Thune will be addressing the group at the 112th Missouri Lincoln Days, which will take place in Springfield from February 25-27. Republican sources tell PoliticMo that another presidential 'water-tester' may also be joining the group - probably on the Friday, rather than the Saturday. ... It is the largest gathering of Missouri Republicans all year, and his year, it is in the party's southwest Missouri stronghold." http://bit.ly/edQoOY and http://bit.ly/fWKT9I


THE RNC RACE - MURPHY ON THE MONEY - GOP master strategist Mike Murphy forecasts this Friday's election for Republican National Committee chairman, writing that former Wisconsin Republican Party Chairman Reince Priebus needs a strong showing on the first vote to head off a protracted, multi-ballot challenge: "Many of the RNC members have only made a first ballot commitment. If they think Priebus is going to surge, many will join the bandwagon to be on the winning side. These are all local party politicians after all. If he looks vulnerable, they may try to go somewhere else. ... Saul Anuzis ... is doing increasingly well with second and third ballot commitments. My guess is that Saul will emerge as the leading opponent to Priebus after the first ballot. The vital question is whether Saul will show enough strength on the second ballot to generate his own momentum." POLITICO's tally has Priebus with 39 commitments - including several picked up overnight - and Anuzis at 15, with former Missouri GOP Chair Ann Wagner at 14 and operative Maria Cino at 12. Incumbent RNC chairman Michael Steele has approximately 24. http://bit.ly/gIOtas


DELAY TO THE BIG HOUSE: Former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay was sentenced to three years in prison for conspiring to commit money laundering during the 2002 midterm campaign. The Austin American-Statesman: "'This will not stand,' said his attorney, Dick DeGuerin. DeLay was taken into custody but he was expected to be released as soon as he posted an appeals bond. The judge then ordered the courtroom cleared except for the lawyers. ... Judge Priest said he agreed with the jury's guilty verdict, returned in November, and would have instructed a different verdict if he did not believe DeLay conspired to break the law. He said there is no higher principle than that those who write the laws should follow the law." http://bit.ly/fVCTt0


ELSEWHERE IN TEXAS - STRAUS SURVIVES: Republican state House Speaker Joe Straus emerged victorious from a legislative leadership contest that drew in national conservative leaders including Mike Huckabee and former UN Ambassador John Bolton. Huckabee and Bolton, along with an array of other GOP figures, had endorsed a conservative effort to oust Straus, who first captured the speakership with strong support from Democrats. That effort fell short, reports the Dallas Morning News: "Seventy of the chamber's 100 Republicans stood in support of Straus in a closed door session, said Rep. Larry Taylor, R-Friendswood, the GOP caucus chairman. ... That signaled Straus, R-San Antonio, will have more than enough votes -- when his Democratic votes are added -- to win a second term as speaker in Tuesday's vote by all 150 House members. ... Taylor, referring to tea party activists who said Straus isn't conservative enough, said, 'Withhold your judgment of us until the end of the session.'" http://bit.ly/eOzYhV


CODA - QUOTE OF THE DAY: "I fought the fight. I ran the race. I kept the faith." - Tom DeLay, addressing the court prior to his sentencing http://bit.ly/fVCTt0

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