Updated at 4:32 p.m. ET

Freshman senator and Tea Party favorite Rand Paul visited South Carolina to test the waters for a presidential bid.

Paul, R-Ky., told The Post and Courier in Charleston, S.C., that he's decided at least one thing.

"The only decision I've made is I won't run against my dad," Paul said, after his visit on Monday.

That reference, of course, is about Texas Rep. Ron Paul, who is thinking about a presidential campaign in 2012. The elder Paul could be considered an inspiration of sorts to the small-government Tea Party movement, having long-held views about limited government and low taxes.

The younger Paul was elected in November and is a founder of the Senate Tea Party Caucus. He's also written a book, The Tea Party Goes to Washington.

South Carolina is one of the states holding early presidential nominating caucuses, generally viewed as a state that tests the conservative credentials of GOP candidates. The South Carolina primary would be about a year from now, after contests in Iowa, New Hampshire and Nevada.

USA TODAY's Alan Gomez reports that Sen. Paul is expected to visit Iowa on April 2 and New Hampshire on April 28.