Most Minnesota voters like the job Governor Tim Pawlenty is doing, and even more expect him to run for president in 2012. But they don’t think he’ll get the Republican Party’s nomination.

Fifty-three percent (53%) approve of Pawlenty’s job performance, including 28% who Strongly Approve, according to a new Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of Minnesota voters. Forty-six percent (46%) don’t approve of the Republican governor, with 26% who Strongly Disapprove.

The governor’s approval ratings are largely unchanged from two months ago.

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Fifty-nine percent (59%) of the state’s voters now say it is at least somewhat likely that Pawlenty will run for president, including 17% who say it’s Very Likely he will do so. Twenty-nine percent (29%) say the governor is not very or not at all likely to seek the White House.

But just 37% say Pawlenty is even somewhat likely to win the GOP presidential nomination in 2012. Only seven percent (7%) say it’s Very Likely. For 55%, it’s not likely that their governor will be the party’s standard-bearer.

Minnesota Republicans are more hopeful. Fifty-three percent (53%) say the governor is at least somewhat likely to be the party’s presidential nominee.

In March, 61% of Minnesota voters said Pawlenty should not run for the presidency.

The majority (54%) of voters in the state now say Republican incumbent Norm Coleman should concede the race after months of legal challenges and let Al Franken be seated in the U.S. Senate. The state Supreme Court will hear arguments on June 1 on Franken’s lawsuit to force Pawlenty to sign an election certificate naming him senator. Sixty-seven percent (67%) say Pawlenty should certify Franken the winner if the court rules in the Democrat’s favor.

Only 19% say that things in Minnesota are going in the right direction, while 62% say they have gotten off on the wrong track. This is well below the national average.

Fifty-seven percent (57%) of Minnesota voters say families in the state that make more than $250,000 per year should pay more in income taxes, but 34% disagree. This is slightly more support for raising taxes on high-income earners than is found nationally.

Sixty-six percent (66%) of Minnesota voters approve of President Obama’s job performance, and 33% disapprove. This is higher support for the president than is found among all U.S. voters in the Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll.

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