Who's Governor Tim Pawlenty?

America's favorite action star and advocate for the mentally handicapped, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, isn't the only US governor on a trade mission to China this week. Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty is here too, just nobody seems to notice. AFX reports:

"When (former pro wrestler) Jesse Ventura was our governor, he got a lot of attention in China because he was a celebrity," said David Metzen, a member of the University of Minnesota Board of Regents. "That's sure to happen when Arnold gets here. California will get a lot more attention than Minnesota."

While Arnold was helping pump up the Chinese masses for the 2007 Special Olympics World Summer Games in Shanghai, Gov. Pawlenty "climbed the Great Wall, toured the Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square, before stopping by a Dairy Queen in Beijing."

Overshadowed by the celebrity of Gov. Schwarzenegger, it may seem Gov. Pawlenty needed a good workout and a Pumpkin Pie Blizzard to reinforce his self-worth. While he may in fact have needed a morale boost, the governor had his reasons for visiting Beijing's DQ.

According to Gov. Pawlenty, "Dairy Queen is based in Minnesota, and they have indicated that their early experience in China is very good -- nearly 60 stores and significant expansion plans -- so that's a good sign."

We found Shanghai's DQ in August. Gov. Pawlenty's next stop is Shanghai. And if he has his way, you will soon find a DQ in your neighborhood too.

Photo by the Associated Press.