Pawlenty's next stop: South Dakota

Tim Pawlenty, meet your neighbors.

The Minnesota governor's latest stop on the GOP party dinner circuit had him headed to South Dakota on Friday. Pawlenty was scheduled to give the keynote address at the Republican Party's State Dinner.

The two-term governor has ramped up his political travel as he weighs a possible run for president. He filed paperwork Thursday for a national fundraising committee he said will be used to aid Republican candidates in 2010.

In recent months, Pawlenty has addressed state Republican fundraisers in Arkansas, Florida and Ohio.

South Dakota has a potential White House candidate of its own. Sen. John Thune has moved up the GOP leadership ranks, leading some to include him the presidential speculation.

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