JEFFERSON CITY — In talking about the state of politics in the nation, Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty channels former President John F. Kennedy.

Pawlenty, a Republican who is traveling the country to help build his national name recognition, is considered a likely presidential candidate in 2012.

Today, he'll kick off a statewide gathering of Missouri Republicans for their annual Lincoln Days celebration, to be held for the first time in St. Charles.

Pawlenty will be offering his vocal support for the U.S. Senate candidacy of Congressman Roy Blunt of Springfield.

"I've thrown my cap over the wall for Roy," Pawlenty told the Post-Dispatch in an interview Thursday. The phrase was made famous by Kennedy, a Democrat who said that America had thrown its cap over the wall of the space program.

Pawlenty, the keynote speaker at tonight's session, said he will talk about getting the Republican Party back to its roots. He criticized his party's failures in the last couple of election cycles, mentioning that the party "blew it" and got fired for not living up to its principles.

"When we talk about being the party of personal and financial responsibility, then we have to do that," he said.

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