Governor Pawlenty says his wife, Mary, is being misquoted in blog accounts of a political fund-raiser, held in the governor's honor this week in Washington. The Atlantic Monthly says Mrs. Pawlenty called her husband "45", referring to the presidential number after the next president has served in office. Interviewed on WCCO Radio this morning, Pawlenty said his wife is frustrated because someone else made that joke. "It was a fundraiser for my 'Pawlenty for Governor' committee", said the governor. "With the exception of that one joke - that got misquoted - there was no discussion of that, that I heard, about anything relating to the vice presidency."  

The Governor's campaign spokeswoman says the event raised 40-thousand-dollars for the Pawlenty gubernatorial campaign committee. Pawlenty today said he's keeping his options open about running for a third term in 2010.