Mitt Romney is Tim Pawlenty's sugar daddy

CNN

Romney supporters paid down about three-quarters of T-Paw's campaign debt.

About two months after he exited the Republican presidential race, Pawlenty for President announced it had outstanding debts of about $454,000.

Those debts are now paid off, thanks in large part to Pawlenty's sugar daddy and the presumptive 2012 GOP presidential nominee, Mitt Romney.

USA Today reports that "Romney loyalists," including 11 members of his family, several key fundraisers, his campaign aides, and employees of the private-equity firm he helped create, donated more than $330,000 to Pawlenty since he decided to drop out of the race August 14.

According to ABC News, Pawlenty raised another $45,000 by selling his database of supporter contacts to American Action Network, the Republican political group run by another Minnesota favorite, Norm Coleman.

Why would Romney loyalists help out former rival T-Paw, who last summer coined the term ObamneyCare to criticize Mitt? Because, since leaving the race, Pawlenty has been steadfast in his support of Romney, who he officially endorsed on September 12.

From the USA Today report:

T-Paw's $upport for Romney has paid off handsomely.

Earlier this year, for instance, Pawlenty denounced former House Speaker Newt Gingrich to reporters as a Washington "influence peddler." During an appearance on Fox News last week, Pawlenty urged another Romney rival, former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum, to "get real" and drop out of the race.


"It makes sense they are helping him repay his debt," said Anthony Corrado, a campaign-finance expert at Colby College in Maine, said of Pawlenty. "He has been a loyal soldier."

In a statement announcing that all his debts have been paid down, Pawlenty said, "it was truly an honor to run for president of the United States," adding that he's grateful "we were able to pay all campaign debts and wind down the campaign properly."

"Mary and I will be forever grateful to the many supporters who inspired and sustained the campaign," Pawlenty added. In other words, 'Thank you Papa Mitt, and thank you Brother Coleman.'

See also:
-- John McCain is Michele Bachmann's sugar daddy
-- Tim Pawlenty, $454,000 in debt, needs help paying Nick Ayers, everyone else