Pawlenty Names Fundraising Team

The Hill reports:

Former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R) on Monday announced the formation of his national finance team ahead of a widely expected presidential bid.

The announcement of 16 finance staffers for Pawlenty's exploratory committee was headlined by the hiring of Brian Haley as national finance director. Haley last served in the same position for Pawlenty's Freedom First PAC. Haley worked as deputy national finance director for Sen. John McCain's (R-Ariz.) 2008 presidential campaign.

Katie McBreen, who worked as the top fundraiser for Sen. Jerry Moran's (R-Kan.) 2010 campaign, will serve as deputy national finance director. McBreen will raise money for Pawlenty after working for former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney's (R) 2008 presidential campaign. Romney, who has not yet announced whether he is running, is seen as the early front-runner for the 2012 campaign.

The move indicates that Pawlenty will begin a major fundraising push heading into the spring.