Unfortunately, in securing his reelection, Pawlenty may have gone to the dark side. The GOP also, sadly, lost its proverbial shirt on his watch, too. He may be moving into Bill Owens territory. :-(
The GOP lost legislative elections during Owens's watch in 2004, when it was winning just about everywhere else. 2006 was a bloodbath for the GOP, and I don't think you can blame the party's losses in MN on Pawlenty.