Pawlenty’s book tour to visit Iowa, New Hampshire

With the 2010 gubernatorial election officially ending this week, current Gov. Tim Pawlenty can now be sure he’ll be absolved of his chief executive duties come January 3.

Less than two weeks later, Pawlenty  will embark on a book tour many see as a prelude to a 2012 presidential run, and with good reason: Notable destinations include front line 2012 states of New Hampshire and Iowa.

Pawlenty will also kick off the tour with a speech at the National Press Club and a book signing in Washington, D.C.. He’ll make stops in the key swing states of Ohio and Florida, along with visits to Minnesota and Texas as well.

Pawlenty also posted an excerpt from his book on his Web site here.

Up until the conclusion of the governor’s election, Pawlenty was faced with the possibility of remaining in office past the expected end of his tenure, if no winner had been identified by the first week of January next year. While he said he would have fulfilled the responsibilities of the job is required to stay on, Pawlenty did say he’d prefer to leave office on schedule.

Here’s the full January schedule:

Thursday, 1/13 (Washington, DC)

National Press Club Speech, Washington, DC

Book signing in Washington, DC

Friday, 1/14 (Florida)

Speak at the Hispanic Leadership Network Inaugural Conference, Miami, FL

Book Signing in Tampa, FL

Tuesday, 1/18 (Minnesota)

Book Signing, Woodbury, MN

Thursday, 1/20 (Texas)

Book Signing, Dallas, TX

Friday, 1/21 (Texas)

Book Signing in Dallas, TX

Book Signing in Houston, TX

Monday, 1/24 (New Hampshire)

Merrimack County GOP Dinner, Merrimack County, NH

Tuesday, 1/25 (New Hampshire)

Politics & Eggs, Bedford, NH

Thursday, 1/27 (Minnesota)

Book Signing in Burnsville, MN

Book Signing in St. Cloud, MN

Saturday, 1/29 (Ohio)

12th Annual Hamilton County Pancake Breakfast, Cincinnati, OH

Sunday, 1/30 (Iowa)

Book Signing, Ankeny, IA

Waukee Chamber of Commerce Dinner

Monday, 1/31 (Iowa)

Book Signing, West Des Moines, IA