While most Minnesotans think Republican Gov. Tim Pawlenty will run for president in 2012 and half worry about his extensive out-of-state travel, the second-term governor still enjoys a 56% job approval rating, according to a new Rasmussen survey (Sept. 15, 500 LV, MoE +/- 4.5%).

Nearly three-quarters (72%) believe Pawlenty will run for the GOP nomination, and 50% think he will win and take on President Obama in the general election. Exactly half of voters are also concerned by the amount of time he has spent outside Minnesota in recent months, and 43% disapprove of the job he's doing as governor.

As for the state's two Democratic senators, 56% say Amy Klobuchar is performing at a good or excellent level; 41% say the same about Al Franken, including 79% of Democrats. After just three months in office, nearly one-third of voters say Franken is performing poorly.