Tim Pawlenty took to his Facebook page Monday to announce in a professionally produced video that he is forming a presidential exploratory committee.

The two-minute online video closely resembles previous campaign-style web advertisements that Pawlenty had previously released through his political action committee, and it features a dramatic musical score and quick edits of images of the former Minnesota governor juxtaposed with vivid backdrops and iconic images.

"At a young age, I saw up close the face of challenge, the face of hardship, and the face of job loss," Pawlenty says in the video, while touting his blue-collar upbringing in St. Paul. "Over the last year, I've traveled to nearly every state in the country, and I know that many Americans are feeling that way. I know that feeling. I've lived it."

With Monday's announcement, Pawlenty becomes the first major Republican candidate to take an official step toward mounting a White House bid.

Former Louisiana Gov. Buddy Roemer, considered a longshot to win the nomination, has also formed an exploratory committee. And former House Speaker Newt Gingrich earlier this month launched a web site designed as a preliminary step toward a campaign -- but he stopped short of filing papers with the Federal Election Commission.

Just minutes after Pawlenty's announcement, Gingrich was among the first to congratulate him, taking to his Twitter account to praise him for the job he did as governor and adding that his likely rival would make a great presidential candidate.

Pawlenty has worked to position himself as a candidate acceptable to all facets of the Republican Party, and his announcement video was laden with the kind of language that the tea party movement has helped popularize in conservative spheres.

"This country was founded on freedom," Pawlenty says. "We the people of the United States will take back our government. This is our country. Our founding fathers created it, Americans embraced it, Ronald Reagan personified it, and Lincoln stood courageously to protect it."

With Pawlenty's announcement came a redesign of his official web site, now headlined "Pawlenty 2012," which invites readers to join the former governor for a live, interactive town hall meeting at 7:30 p.m. ET Monday. Those interested in participating in the telephone town hall must provide their phone numbers, which will no doubt be kept on file for future fundraising requests and event announcements.

Pawlenty's transition into an all but official campaign comes after the former governor spent more than a year visiting early voting states, hiring staff, raising money for his political action committee, and making frequent media appearances to bolster his profile in advance of an anticipated White House run.