Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty has come out with a tough statement on the resignation of DC school chief Michelle Rhee:

Our nation’s capital is losing a superwoman in education. Michelle Rhee’s resignation is more evidence of the corrosive impact of teachers’ unions in American schools. Despite — or maybe because of — the early success of her school reforms, the teachers’ unions worked tirelessly to stop her, showing no compassion for the thousands of children stuck in failing D.C. schools. Despite the teachers’ unions’ success in defeating Michelle Rhee, her leadership is inspiring to reformers everywhere and will make it harder for the unions to defend the failed status quo.

Pawlenty is mulling a bid for the 2012 Republican presidential nomination.