Pawlenty to hit the Iowa airwaves

Almost 50 days until the Ames Straw Poll, Tim Pawlenty is about to go up with TV ads in Iowa -- the first presidential candidate to do that this cycle, First Read confirms. Politico first reported the news.

The TV ads -- at a $50,000 buy, running from June 23 to July 3 -- will appear on FOX News in the Cedar Rapids, Des Moines, Omaha, Ottumwa, Rochester, and Sioux City media markets.

Pawlenty spokesman Alex Conant tells NBC: "Gov. Pawlenty is well positioned to unite conservatives and do well in both Iowa and New Hampshire. The soon-to-be-unveiled TV ads will introduce the governor to Iowans about why he is the candidate with the strongest record and best results, not rhetoric."