Pawlenty has proved to be far feistier in defending Romney than he was in promoting his own candidacy. He has been working the crowds in the “spin room” after debates, giving TV interviews and making campaign appearances to boost Romney, and now doing the dirty work of the attack teleconference…

“When you’re running, as Newt is, as somebody who is saying he’s against the establishment, when in fact he is the establishment,” Pawlenty said, “number one, there’s hypocrisy there, and number two, there needs to be transparency so people can evaluate the candidates.”

Nicely played. Had Pawlenty — a more consistent conservative than Romney, with a better record in office — taken that approach earlier, perhaps Romney would be working for him, instead of the other way around.