Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty might want to focus his reported interest in the White House a little more at home for right now.

Forty-six percent (46%) of Minnesota voters say they would not vote for Pawlenty if he wins the Republican presidential nomination in 2012, according to a new Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of voters in the state.

But nearly as many (42%) say they would vote for Pawlenty if he led the GOP’s national ticket in the next presidential election. Twelve percent (12%) are not sure.

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Support for the two-term Republican governor is much higher among voters in his own party. Eighty-two percent (82%) of GOP voters in Minnesota say they would vote for Pawlenty in 2012 if he is the party’s presidential nominee. Eighty-eight percent (88%) of Minnesota Democrats sat they would not support Pawlenty.

Among voters in the state not affiliated with either major party, 35% say they would vote for Pawlenty in 2012, while 45% would not and 20% are undecided.

Married voters and those with children in the home are almost evenly divided over a Pawlenty candidacy in 2012. Unmarrieds and those who don’t have children living with them are more likely not to vote for Pawlenty.

Fifty-two percent (52%) of all voters in the state approve of Pawlenty’s performance as governor, with 28% who strongly approve. Forty-seven percent (47%) disapprove of the job he’s doing, including 25% who strongly disapprove. These numbers have been roughly the same for months.

Pawlenty, a leading candidate to be John McCain’s vice presidential running mate last year, has not said whether he is running for the GOP presidential nomination in 2012. But he has announced that he will not seek a third term as governor next year. Pawlenty also has been increasing his appearances at key GOP political events around the country, which is often a signal of interest in a national race.

Just four percent (4%) of Republican voters nationwide say Pawlenty is their pick to be the party’s presidential candidate in 2012. Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee is the current front-runner, followed by Mitt Romney and Sarah Palin.

With her book “Going Rogue” coming out this week, 59% of Republican voters say Palin, the party’s 2008 vice presidential nominee, shares the values of most GOP voters throughout the nation.

Forty-five percent (45%) of GOP voters have a favorable view of Pawlenty. But 28% say he is the candidate they would least like to see win the Republican presidential nomination in 2012.

Minnesota voters give Senator Amy Klobuchar higher marks for job performance than her fellow senator Al Franken and Michele Bachmann, the congresswoman who has become a conservative lightning rod in the national health care debate.

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