MINNEAPOLIS -- Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R-Minn.) said he didn't believe President Bush would affect the Republican National Convention if he were or were not to attend.

Pawlenty, who the main host of the convention and spoke to the Ohio Delegation this morning, was asked by PolitickerOH.com if it was a good for the party that Bush would not speak tonight. Pawlenty said it didn't matter either way if Bush attended, even though his approval rating is about 30 percent.

"I think Senator McCain has established his own identiy and his own brand so i don't know that President Bush's presence being here or not being here is oging to effect that one way or the other," Pawlenty said.

Pawlenty said Bush is still fairly well-liked inside the GOP.

"I think that from a party stand point President Bush is still very popular but Senator McCain has established his own reputation and brand inthe electorate over the years as an independent, a maverick," Pawlenty said.

Pawlenty turned the table on Barack Obama, saying that Obama is affiliated with a Democratic Congress that is half as popular as Bush in most polls.