James R. Carroll

WASHINGTON - Sen. Rand Paul's travel schedule will encompass eight states - plus his home state of Kentucky - in the coming weeks.

Stops include return visits to Iowa, the first-in-the-nation presidential caucus state in 2016, and New Hampshire, where the first presidential primary will be held.

Paul has said he is considering a bid for the Republican presidential nomination, but won't decide until early next year.

Meanwhile, he is on the road - as any potential White House contender would be.

The latest schedule released by his political action committee, RANDPAC, has the senator in the Midwest, Northeast and the South between Thursday and Oct. 29.

On Thursday, Paul will be the keynote speaker at a think tank called the Show-Me Institute in St. Louis.

On Sunday, he will be in his hometown of Bowling Green to host "Barnburner & BBQ," which will include political speeches among family activities and food.

On Oct. 15, Paul will campaign for GOP Senate candidate Ed Gillespie and GOP House candidate Dave Brat in Ashland, Va.

The next day, Oct. 16, the Kentuckian will be part of Republican events in Manchester, Plymouth and Salem, N.H.

Paul is scheduled to address the American Academy of Ophthalmology annual meeting in Chicago on Oct. 20.

It's on to Lima, Ohio, the next day, when he will be the keynote speaker at an Allen County Republican Party event.

The day after that, Oct. 22, Paul is to campaign for GOP House candidate Rod Blum at the University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls. RANDPAC said additional Iowa stops will be announced soon.

On Oct. 28, the senator will be in Wichita, Kan., campaigning for Republican Sen. Pat Roberts and Republican Gov. Sam Brownback. Paul also is expected to make additional Kansas stops, yet to be announced.

Then the following day, Paul is scheduled to keynote the Oakland County Republican Party's Lincoln Day dinner in Rochester, Mich.