In addition to criticizing Jason Lewis’ column in Saturday’s Wall Street Journal, Governor Pawlenty notably does not use his appearance on Fox News Sunday to eschew the #2 spot on the ticket.  The Governor is in full-on audition mode.

FNS Transcript:

Governor Pawlenty, a column in the Wall Street Journal just yesterday — and I suspect that you read it — said this about you, “If the Arizona senator wants to unite conservative Republicans behind him, there are better choices.”

The writer said that you’re too liberal on spending, on government mandates and the environment. How do you respond?

PAWLENTY: Well, I think that was written by one of our local talk radio show hosts in Minnesota who’s had some differences with me on things like being friendly toward the environment.

But I think if you look at my record overall, it’s been a fiscally conservative record and a socially conservative record. This particular writer, I think, has taken issue with a few things.

But more importantly and beyond all of that, I support Senator McCain not because I need some other job or want some other job, because I believe he’s going to be a fantastic president for this country.

He’s a main of great courage, patriotism, valor. He’s going to unite the Republican conservative base. But he can also appeal to independents and conservative Democrats. He’s going to give us our best shot to win.

WALLACE: Would you be interested in running with him if he asked you? And do you think you could add something to a ticket both politically in terms of policy and also in terms of perhaps putting the Upper Mississippi Valley into play?

PAWLENTY: You know, I have a day job, and I support him because I think he’d be a great president, not because I want to be vice president.

And he’ll have a lot of great choices when it comes to that down the road to pick a vice presidential candidate. And I wish him well in that regard, but I’m trying to do my job and being focused on being governor of the state.