News came Friday morning, as vice presidential short-lister Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty hosted his radio show live from a swarmed WCCO Radio booth at the State Fair.

A CBS News special report announcing Palin's position interrupted Pawlenty's programming, which purposely deviated from politics and instead focused on State Fair mainstays like swine and preserve judging.

The Minnesota governor, a College of Liberal Arts and Law School alumnus, said the first he'd heard of a running mate selection was during a Friday morning phone call with McCain.

"It was a wonderful conversation and I congratulated him on the pick," Pawlenty said. "I never got into this with the idea that I needed or wanted something out of it. I'm honored to have been considered, and I'm excited and pleased with the selection."

Pawlenty abruptly canceled all his press engagements Thursday, and made clear he would be in Minnesota Friday morning for the radio show rather than in Dayton, Ohio, where McCain and his running mate are slated to make their first public appearance as a ticket.

At an impromptu press conference following the hour-long radio show that drew media en masse, Pawlenty pledged his continued ardent support for McCain's campaign.

"Gov. Palin is an outstanding, terrific pick for vice president for the country, for the Republican Party," he said, noting her executive experience and likely appeal to women voters.

As for Pawlenty's future, he said McCain hasn't approached him about a cabinet position and, at least for now, that's not the governor's aim.

"My goal now is to do what I can as a volunteer to get Sen. McCain elected president for the next 60 days, but as importantly that I continue my work as governor of the state of Minnesota," he said.

Asked if he'll seek re-election, Pawlenty familiarly played coy as he has throughout the months-long vice-president speculation.

"I've decided to defer that until sometime early next year," he said. "We're going to let this election pass."