Today's Gerald Seib column seems like it was typed up from inside the communications office of Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, who may run for president in 2012. The very friendly spin for the Republican politician who is increasingly unpopular in his own state? It's a good thing!

From Seib:

It's been a bad week for Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty. Of course, it's also been a good week for Republican Presidential Contender Tim Pawlenty.

Pawlenty's has been battling with the state's Democratically-controlled legislature over the size of the state budget, and this week the state's Supreme Court threw out Pawlenty's previous effort to cut state spending. Seib announces this all plays right into Pawlenty's hands in terms of his national aspirations:

In sum, this week's events define what Mr. Pawlenty is: a classic, fiscally conservative Midwestern Republican governor. In a period of voter discontent, Republicans have two years to decide whether that's the right stuff for the times.'

Here's what Seib conveniently forgets to tell readers: Pawlenty's Minnesota approval ratings recently fell to an all-time low.

Question: Has there ever been a successful presidential contender who launched his White House bid while is own state-wide approval rating went dramatically south?