Potential presidential GOP candidate Ron Paul will travel to the home state of one of his potential rivals to deliver a speech next week. 

The Texas congressman will appear next Friday at Mississippi State Unviersity to discuss libertarian politics, according to the school. Haley Barbour (R) another potential candidates, is governor of the state. 

The speech is organized by Young Americans for Liberty, a political activist group affiliated with Paul. 

Paul said last week he plans to make a decision whether to make his third presidential bid "in a month or so."

He says that threats to his office won't be tolerated and "have put me in quite a bad mood."

When it comes to opinions of New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R), the partisan divide has increased substantially over the past several months, according to a new poll.

New numbers released Tuesday from Rutgers University found the gap between Democratic and Republican opinions of the governor has widened as his stature among Republicans nationally has grown.

One thing both parties agree on: Christie is stubborn.

The word "stubborn" is the one 62 percent of New Jersey residents agreed describes Christie "very well." Even a majority of Republicans in the Garden State said "stubborn" was an apt descriptor for the governor.   

New Mexico Senate candidate Greg Sowards (R) brought in more than $152,035 last quarter as he looks to compete in a crowded primary field.

Sowards said the money came from conservatives and Tea Party members who "are looking for a well-funded, well-organized alternative to liberal Republican Heather Wilson."

Sowards raised $2,035 from supporters in the last quarter and donated $150,000 of his own money to launch his effort. He retains that amount in cash on hand.

Sowards currently faces Wilson, a former congresswoman, and Republican Bill English in the Senate primary. Wilson announced earlier this week she raised $303,394 in the first quarter. English has yet to release his fundraising numbers.

Sowards dismissed Wilson's fundraising total.
 
"Voters rejected Heather Wilson in a primary four years ago for the same reason they will reject her this time," Sowards said in a statement. "We will wage a creative campaign that will have the strength and message necessary to win, as the candidate that stands with integrity, while defending firm constitutional principles."

Wilson had $281,965 banked at the end of the quarter. 

--Updated at 12:31 p.m. on April 15

The Tea Party Patriots' co-founder says congressional Republicans who are supporting the budget deal should expect challenges.

Former Sen. Rick Santorum (R-Pa.) appears poised to move a step closer to an official 2012 presidential campaign Wednesday night.

The former senator is expected to make a "big announcement" during an interview with Fox News's Greta Van Susteren and could reveal the formation of a presidential exploratory committee.

Santorum has already publicly committed to two early presidential debates, but to participate in a May 5 debate in South Carolina, candidates must have officially formed exploratory committees or formally declared a presidential candidacy.

Should Santorum take that step Wednesday, he would be the fifth GOP hopeful to formally file paperwork for an exploratory committee. Former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, former Louisiana Gov. Buddy Roemer and conservative talk host Herman Cain all have official committees.  

Santorum, meanwhile, is headed back to New Hampshire on Thursday for a three-day swing through the state that includes a Friday rally with Tea Party activists on the steps of the state capitol in Concord.

Indiana governor is best known as the “truce” candidate for calling on the GOP to declare one on social issues.

GOP hopefuls seem to want to distance themselves from Trump's "birther" theories while not appearing overly hostile.

The protracted fight over spending illustrates how the president values getting a deal more than anything else.