NY Times: Romney Has Made Decision on VP Pick

Mitt Romney has reached a decision on who will be his vice presidential running mate and may announce it this week, the New York Times reported.

The information about Romney’s decision was part of an article spotlighting former Minnesota governor Tim Pawlenty, 51, who is one of several possible candidates for vice president.

Romney has embraced the advice of Pawlenty and has forged a close relationship with him, the Times reported. Pawlenty has become one of Romney’s most vocal backers and was described by the National Review as “Romney’s traveling salesman.”

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“I’m happy to help where I can,” Pawlenty told the Times. Asked about the No. 2 slot, Pawlenty told the paper, “I think I can best serve him in other ways, but anybody would be honored to be asked.”

Several Republicans close to the Romney’s campaign told the Times they believe Pawlenty and Sen. Rob Portman of Ohio stand out among those being considered.

“An appealing counterbalance to Romney being a son of a wealthy man and going to elite schools is Pawlenty being the son of a truck driver who went to the University of Minnesota,” Ray Washburne, a Dallas businessman, told the Times. “He’s not elite in any sense of the word.”