Rick Perry to speak in Iowa on Sunday

Texas Gov. Rick Perry gives a closing address at The Response, a call to prayer for a nation in crisis, an event at Reliant Stadium that drew roughly 30,000 people, on Aug. 6, 2011 in Houston.

/ AP Photo/The Daily Texan, Erika Rich

Texas Governor Rick Perry will speak at a Republican fundraiser in Iowa Sunday for the Black Hawk County Republicans, his campaign confirmed to the CBS News on Tuesday.

Perry appears poised to soon announce his bid for the Republican presidential nomination, and his decision to travel to the crucial first-in-the-nation voting state signals that he plans to compete aggressively there. Perry also plans to make stops in South Carolina and New Hampshire on Saturday, and is expected to make his plans to seek the nomination clear in his remarks in South Carolina.

"It's an important area of the state for Republicans," Mark Miner, a spokesman for Perry, told the Des Moines Register of Perry's decision to travel to Waterloo, Iowa. "There's nothing new to announce, but stay tuned."

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Perry's campaign said the event will take place in Waterloo's Electric Park Ballroom, and Perry will be joined by Sen. Chuck Grassley, Rep. Walt Rogers, R-Iowa, Republican Party of Iowa Chairman Matt Strawn and Secretary of State Matt Schultz.

Notably, the trip will come just a day after Saturday's closely-watched Iowa straw poll in Ames. Perry, who is not on the straw poll ballot, will undoubtedly divert attention from the outcome of the poll, which traditionally has a significant impact on the Republican presidential race.

Perry is expected to immediately jump to the top tier of contenders for the nomination if he enters the race, in part because he has support from both the Republican establishment and the social and fiscal conservatives who have rallied around Rep. Michele Bachmann.

[Independent1290]

This man is nothing but an infomercial, RINO grifter. If the Republicans were educated at all they would know he is the neo-con of all neo-cons. I'm a rightward leaning independent and let me say if this joke is the GOP nominee, Obama's got my vote hands down! Romney and Huntsman are the only viable candidates.

[DrRowdyAintItGrand]

Rock on, Governor Perry, the democrats are scared spitless. A candidate with an actual HUGE record of economical success sends them spinning in their typing chairs.

[greenlantern1]

King Solomon had 700 wives and 300 concubines.
Great example?
Clifford Spencer

[Zann-Zel]

Find out what injections he plans to give to your daughters before you decide to vote for him!

[Lindag10]

Oh dear poor Texas another week without rain. I've noticed that every time Perry draws attention to himself that the dome of high pressure that's keeping the rain away moves right back over the center of the state. It's weird but I watch the Weather Channel to see how things are going across the country and I've noticed this for the past several weeks. Take care.

[bmirarck2]

NO MORE TEXANS in the W.H.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Progress4U]

The repubs are sure amassing a HUGEEEEEEEEE clown car!

[brian_norwood]

Will Rick finally announce he is coming out of the closet?

[Progress4U]

Oh that's a news flash...not!

[expatriate2]

Please announce your candidacy, Rick! Every liberal in the world prays each night for someone like you to represent conservatives.