Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, who's receiving lots of attention -- positive and negative -- for his national travels in preparation for what certainly seems like a run for president in 2012, defended his wanderlust this weekend, while he was in Michigan speaking to a Republican leadership conference.

According to CNN.com, Pawlenty said:

"The point is, I have the time and the energy and the ability to make some time to speak out to issues that I think are important to my state and to the country."

He added that since this particular event fell on a Saturday, he likely "wouldn't be doing the state's business today back in Minnesota" anyway.

And the governor dismissed the Democratic National Committee's attempt to "call him out" on his health care stand, calling it mere "politics" and saying simply, "It's what they do."

And CNN said: 

Pawlenty said he would "eventually" be in Iowa — traditionally the first caucus state — for political events, but also stated that it would likely be in his role as vice chair of the Republican Governors' Association "as opposed to anything else."