Tim Pawlenty plans to introduce a deficit plan of his own, one that will include Social Security reform: 

“I’m going to have my own plan that will have some differences than what he had. For example, he didn’t address Social Security. I will,” he said during an interview with Nevada political journalist Jon Ralston. “You can kick the can down the road and wait for the crisis to come just like we have now in these other programs. But there are reasonable steps … that I know we can get a majority of the country on board with.” 

According to a spokesman, Pawlenty will release the plan after he formally announces his presidential campaign, and it will include “specific policy proposals.” 

Pawlenty’s biggest challenge right now is increasing his name recognition. While Paul Ryan’s plan to reduce entitlement spending is politically risky, it has also boosted his stature to the point that now he is thought of as a potential presidential candidate himself. Pawlenty could benefit from the same kind of approach.