Pawlenty campaigning for state Senate candidate

Gov. Tim Pawlenty will campaign Wednesday for the Republican-endorsed candidate running for an open state Senate seat. Pawlenty and Republican Mike Parry will host a business roundtable at the Owatonna Country Club.

Parry is running in a special election on Jan. 26 to fill the seat of Republican Dick Day, who retired to become a lobbyist.

Parry was forced to apologize earlier this month, after making questionable comments about President Obama on his twitter feed. Pawlenty said Parry's remarks are inappropriate, but he accepts his apology.

"He recognizes those comments were unwise and improper," Pawlenty said of the Waseca businessman. "He's apologized and I'm willing to give him the benefit of the doubt and campaign for him because I think the rest of his record and the rest of his perspective is worth supporting."

St. Olaf College professor Jason Engbrecht is the DFL-endorsed candidate. Waseca Mayor Roy Srp is running as the Independence Party candidate.

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