Nov. 7 (Bloomberg) -- Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty criticized health care legislation in Congress as he appeared in what may be an early audition for a 2012 presidential bid.

“It’s rare for Congress to work on weekends, but even rarer that a bill this anti-freedom comes along,” he said in remarks prepared for delivery. “It’s anti-freedom because it raises taxes,” he said. “It’s anti-freedom because it explodes bureaucracy. And it’s anti-freedom because it puts government in charge of health care decisions.”

The House began debate today and planned to vote later tonight on the legislation, designed to cover 36 million uninsured Americans and curb medical costs. Pawlenty’s speech at the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines is the first high- profile event of the early audition season in the state that holds the nation’s first presidential caucus.

“The federal government can’t even live up to its promises for the manufacturing and distribution of vaccine for the flu,” said Pawlenty, 48. “If they can’t even arrange to manufacture and distribute flu vaccine, do you really think we should trust them to take over more of the system?”

Pawlenty also singled out President Barack Obama for criticism.

“On the night that he won the Iowa caucuses, he promised to bring Republicans and Democrats together to pass a health care bill,” he said. “And now he’s decided to ram it down our throats.”

Republican Activists

The Leadership for Iowa event offered the governor, who is not seeking re-election in 2010, a chance to introduce himself to about 500 Republican activists.

Senator Chuck Grassley, an Iowa Republican, said none of the possible 2012 candidates have the upper hand.

“It’s a whole new ball game,” he said. “And nobody should skip Iowa.”

Other potential Republican presidential candidates were making plans to visit Iowa.

Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee is scheduled to be in the state tomorrow, while former New York Governor George Pataki is planning a Nov. 10 visit. Sarah Palin, the former Alaska governor and 2008 vice presidential nominee, also is considering a trip to Iowa, as are other potential candidates.

While Pawlenty lacks the star power of Palin, who earlier this year received a $1.25 million book advance, he presents himself as a fresh face who has won elections in a state historically dominated by Democrats.

‘Next-Door-Neighbor Status’

His next-door-neighbor status could offer Pawlenty an advantage in an Iowa campaign, especially in the northern sections of the state that share television markets with Minnesota.

Dave Mackenzie, 68, a retired manufacturing manager from Ottumwa, Iowa, said he came to see Pawlenty because he wants to learn more about his “moderate” reputation.

“I understand he’s fairly conservative, but not real far to the right,” he said. “You don’t have to be a crazy, and some of the people are really extreme.”

Pawlenty recently gained attention by endorsing a Conservative Party candidate over a Republican in a closely watched congressional election on Nov. 3 in Upstate New York. The Pawlenty-endorsed candidate, Doug Hoffman, 59, lost to Democrat Bill Owens, 60, after Republican nominee Dede Scozzafava, 49, dropped out of the race the weekend before the election.

Political Action Committee

Pawlenty said on a Nov. 4 conference call with Iowa reporters that he doesn’t plan to endorse candidates in 2010 that do not run under the Republican banner. He demurred when asked whether he plans to run for president.

Iowa GOP activists said they will be watching closely to see whether Pawlenty presents himself as a social conservative or an establishment Republican.

Pawlenty held the first major fundraising event for his political action committee, Freedom First PAC, on Nov. 4 in Minnneapolis.

One of the PAC’s co-chairs is former Minnesota congressman Vin Weber, an early supporter of former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney in the 2008 Republican presidential race. Another is Morgan Stanley Vice Chairman William Strong, a top fundraiser for former President George W. Bush and Senator John McCain of Arizona, the Republican White House nominee last year.

Pawlenty, considered by McCain as a possible running mate, joins other possible 2012 candidates with PACs. Huckabee, 54, has the Huck PAC, Palin, 45, created SarahPAC and Romney, 62, opened the Free and Strong America PAC.

Hockey Player

Pawlenty spent time in Iowa in 2008 as a McCain surrogate.

His Iowa visit follows a summer crisscrossing the nation to speak to Republicans, introducing himself as the hockey-playing son of a truck driver who grew up in Minnesota near South St. Paul meat-packing plants.

A USA Today/Gallup Poll conducted Oct. 31-Nov. 1 showed 32 percent of Republicans nationwide would seriously consider voting for Pawlenty for president. Huckabee, Romney, Palin and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, 66, all scored higher than him in the survey of 301 Republicans that had a margin of error of plus-or-minus 7 percentage points.

Jane Schneider, 59, a retired commercial artist from Ft. Madison, Iowa, said she came to the event to get to know Pawlenty, even though she already has a first choice.

“I’m only looking in case Huckabee doesn’t run,” she said.

To contact the reporter on this story: John McCormick in Chicago at Jmccormick16@bloomberg.net.

Last Updated: November 7, 2009 20:00 EST