Former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty will announce this afternoon that he will create an exploratory committee to formally consider a bid for the Republican nomination to face pro-abortion President Barack Obama.

Pawlenty, a pro-life advocate who served two terms as governor, is the first of the Republicans considered most likely to receive the GOP nomination to announce a committee. GOP businessman Herman Cain was the first to officially announce a committee last month.

“We’re filing the paperwork today to form an exploratory committee to run for president of the United States,” Pawlenty said this morning in a conference call with reporters. The committee, he said, would allow him to take the “initial steps” necessary to run for president, as he is expected to do...