Pawlenty to participate June 13 New Hampshire GOP debate

Former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty says he will attend the CNN/ WMUR-TV/ New Hampshire Union Leader debate on June 13, 2011 Manchester, N.H. In announcing his participation Pawlenty said he looked forward to discussing his vision for growing the economy, cutting spending and creating jobs.

"We cannot wait to begin the campaign to defeat President Obama and discuss our records with voters. President Obama's policies have failed, and we need a new leader to tell the hard truths necessary to restore American prosperity. I look forward to sharing my vision and discussing my record in front of first-in-the-nation primary voters."

Pawlenty also took part in the first debate held in early May along with Texas Congressman Ron Paul, former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum, former New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson and businessman Herman Cain. Fox News sponsored that debate which took place in Greenville, SC.

A CNN spokeswoman told Minnesota Public Radio News on Tuesday that the Network planned to release a list of debate participants later this week or next week.

A New Hampshire-based consultant to Minnesota Congresswoman Michele Bachmann told reporters Monday in Dover, N.H. that Bachmann would be participating in the debate. But Bachmann later declined to confirm that saying she did not want to "trump" the debate sponsors' announcement.

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