Sam's Club President

Then-minnesota governor Tim Pawlenty stumbled into a moment of unintentional comedy on Jon Stewart's The Daily Show last June. The liberal Stewart had asked the inevitable question about the 2012 presidential race: "Will you run?" "I really don't know," Pawlenty deadpanned, and explained that he lacked some of the typical qualifications: "I don't have a billion dollars. I don't have novelty," he said, and then, just as he realized the innuendo involved, he let slip, "I don't have a big... schtick." The audience and Stewart erupted at the suggestive remark, and only after a few minutes of uproarious laughter from all involved could Pawlenty clarify that no ribaldry was intended: "That's 'S-C-H-I...'"

Pawlenty might not have a schtick, but he does have a résumé that none of his possible competitors for the Republican presidential nomination could boast.