And thus, Pawlenty kisses good bye his presidential aspirations:

After facing criticism in recent days for sidestepping the issue, Tim Pawlenty today in New Hampshire said if he were president and Rep. Paul Ryan’s budget proposal came to his desk, he would sign it.

The Pawlenty team is circulating the following remarks that the former Minnesota governor made to a scrum of reporters in the Granite state:

“First of all, I applaud Congressman Ryan for his courage and his leadership in putting his plan forward. At least he has a plan. President Obama doesn't have a plan. The Democrats don't have a plan. And I really applaud his leadership and his courage in putting a plan on the table. Number two, we will have our own plan; it will have many similarities to Congressman Ryan's plan, but it will have some differences, one of which will be we'll address Social Security. He chose not to; we are addressing Social Security. And the Medicare part of our plan will have some differences, too. It will have some similarities also. So we'll have our own plan. But if I can't have my own plan — as president, I'll have my own plan – if I can't have that, and the bill came to my desk and I had to choose between signing or not Congressman Ryan's plan, of course I would sign it.”

Because, you know, standing tall with killing Medicare as we know it has played so well with the voters. Just ask Jane Corwin. Brilliant strategy there, Tim.