Former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, now touring the nation in preparation for a possible presidential run, paused to consider the situation in Wisconsin.

Friday he sent his sympathy to Minnesota's neighboring governor. In a statement, he said:

"Governor Scott Walker is making tough choices needed to avoid financial ruin. The nation's governors don't need a lecture from a President who has never balanced a budget. All levels of government need to bring public employee compensation in line with the private sector. The gig is up for public employee groups who demand better benefits than the taxpayers who are paying the bill. I'm confident Governor Walker's reforms will succeed in Wisconsin. Stand strong, Scott -- average taxpayers everywhere are rooting for you."

U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann said on Fox that Wisconsin Democrats are "trying to thwart the will of the people." She also compared the Wisconsin situation to Greece and the air traffic control strike of the 1980s, which included President Ronald Reagan's terminating workers. She said White House and Wisconsin unions over reacted. See the video:

In Minnesota, the AFL-CIO plans to rally Tuesday at the Minnesota Capitol to support the Wisconsin workers.

Here's the email from the Minnesota union:

Rallies. Crowds spilling into the streets. Seas of people marching together in solidarity. Every day this week, nonstop.

This isn’t happening in Egypt...but just over the border in Wisconsin.

Schools are closed. Workers, high school and college students, community members, religious groups and concerned citizens have dropped their daily lives to rally against Gov. Scott Walker’s Draconian attacks on middle-class jobs and his proposal to strip Wisconsin teachers, nurses, social workers and other public employees of their collective bargaining rights.

It’s time for Minnesotans to stand in solidarity with them.

Please join union members and supporters on Tuesday, February 22 at 4:00 pm in your Minnesota State Capitol Rotunda.