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Pawlenty Visits Chicago On Book Tour

CHICAGO (CBS) -- Illinois is President Barack Obama's home state, and Chicago is his hometown, but that's not keeping potential Republican presidential contender Tim Pawlenty away.

Pawlenty was in Chicago on Friday as part of a book tour for his new Courage to Stand.

He spoke and signed his book at the City Club of Chicago public policy luncheon Friday at Maggiano's Banquets, 111 W. Grand Ave.

Pawlenty is also set to appear at 12:30 p.m. Saturday at the Borders bookstore at 101 Rice Lake Square in Wheaton, a historically conservative DuPage County suburb.

The former Minnesota governor said Chicago and Illinois are important to get the pulse of what's going on in the country.

He says he is not worried or intimidated by coming to a state with Democrats because his home state of Minnesota is like that.

Pawlenty said he will soon make a decision about running for president and will make an announcement in the next couple of months.

(TM and © Copyright 2011 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS Radio and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2010 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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