Stephen Colbert hosts Tim Pawlenty's comeback [VIDEO]

Tim Pawlenty, Stephen Colbert: A comedy duo?

​Three weeks after pulling out of his presidential campaign, Tim Pawlenty made a triumphant return to the national stage.

Fox News, you presume? Hardly.

In a bold move, Pawlenty sat down with Stephen Colbert last night, joining the man who'd so artfully and devastatingly ridiculed his short-lived campaign on "The Colbert Report."

The decision to come on Colbert's show implied a certain readiness to laugh at himself, and Pawlenty lived up to it right away. Pointing at his screaming crowd, Colbert asked, "Did you get that kind of reception in Iowa?"

"No," Pawlenty deadpanned.

Pawlenty also took the chance to confirm everyone's suspicions about why he wrapped up his campaign so very early, quitting just after the August 13 Ames Straw Poll.

"I was out of money," Pawlenty said. "And I came in third place behind Michele Bachmann and Ron Paul -- I think that's enough for any one person to endure."

On that, and other occasions last night, Pawlenty's one-liners had to hit the audience on a two-second delay, as they seemed surprised to even hear a politician making jokes. 

Eventually, Colbert asked Pawlenty to "make some news," asking if he wanted to endorse anyone in 2012.

"You," Pawlenty said.

Pawlenty, unyoked of the burdens of running for Republican nominee in strange times, was quite charming and utterly humble. Wonder what would happen if the guy who was on "The Colbert Report" last night ran for president.



Previously:

• Tim Pawlenty's ridiculous ads get the Colbert treatment
• Tim Pawlenty's 10 greatest misses
• Stephen Colbert: Michele Bachmann bought the Ames Straw Poll [VIDEO]