Pawlenty: Obama Lacks Courage in Debt Crisis

WASHINGTON — GOP presidential candidate Tim Pawlenty wonders aloud whether President Barack Obama is too "chicken" to show leadership courage in the debt showdown in Washington.

Obama needs to talk specifically about where he would cut entitlement programs to reduce the nation's debt, the former Minnesota governor said in comments taped for an interview for CNN's "State of the Union" today. Obama has been negotiating with congressional leaders in an attempt to raise the debt limit.

Pawlenty, who has been criticized for not being aggressive enough in his campaign, said Obama needs to quit hiding in the basement of the White House and come out to talk to the public.