T-Paw's Political Idol" auction, Round 2

Tim Pawlenty's political action committee is launching a new online endorsement contestFriday, asking supporters to pick their favorite midterm candidate backed by the Minnesota governor.

It's the second such contest run by Pawlenty's "Freedom First" PAC, which was created last year to support Republican candidates and give the governor a chance to build a political operation as he mulls a possible presidential bid in 2012.

In May, Pawlenty supporters tapped Wisconsin House candidate Sean Duffy as their favorite PAC-endorsed Republican.

The winning candidate will get a campaign visit from the governor before Election Day along with the opportunity to co-host, with Pawlenty, a live Facebook town hall from the winner's district.

There's also a serious financial reward at stake: The winner will get fundraising help via Pawlenty's national email list, and the PAC will match every dollar donated to the winning candidate through the committee, up to the $5,000 limit.

Six of the candidates are from South Carolina, a pivotal presidential primary state that Pawlenty recently visited for the first time.

Those Palmetto State candidates are Sen. Jim DeMint, gubernatorial hopeful Nikki Haley, and House candidates Jeff Duncan, Joe Wilson, Trey Gowdy and Tim Scott.