Pawlenty closes his state campaign fund

Ten charities and three Republican organizations will share in nearly $575,000 from Gov. Tim Pawlenty's terminated state campaign account.

The Pawlenty for Governor Committee announced Tuesday it filed paperwork to shut down the account, which he won't need after deciding not to run for a third term.

The charities will split $290,892, the largest chunk going to Minnesota Teen Challenge, a drug and alcohol treatment program.

Charities that support military members, cancer research and hunger prevention also get a share.

The remaining $284,000 will go to the state Republican Party and campaign accounts for Minnesota House and Senate Republicans.

Pawlenty is expected to form a national political action committee soon to support his heavy travel. He is a potential 2012 presidential candidate.