[9YearLurker]

I think this story is the official end of TPaw’s campaign:

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2011/07/22/pawlenty_denies_associates_pushed_bachmann_story_110684.html

[hellbender]

Aha! Here's a key quote from your link:

The Minnesota Independent reported in March that former Bachmann Chief of Staff Ron Carey was one of three ex-staffers for the congresswoman who were publicly lending their support to Pawlenty for the GOP nomination.

[Stoat]

I think this story is the official end of TPaw’s campaign

Indeed, as well as Huntsman.  Stick a fork in them, they're done before they even get out of the starting gate, sans a massive Leftist CPR effort to keep a Republican in the race who they think will lose to Zero.