Sarah Palin's bus tour to return -- in Iowa
Updated 6:45 p.m. ET
Months after Sarah Palin rode her constitution-themed bus into New Hampshire just as Mitt Romney was kicking off his campaign, the former Alaska Governor and 2008 Republican vice presidential candidate appears to be at it again.
In an email sent to supporters, Palin said she would travel to Iowa this week to visit the Iowa State Fair.
"The heartland is perfect territory for more of the One Nation Tour as we put forth efforts to revitalize the fundamental restoration of America by highlighting our nation's heart, history, and founding principles," she wrote.
Her email also includes a dig at President Obama's recent comments about eating peas as part of Congress's responsibilities during the recent deficit deal.
"I'm also excited to try some of that famous fried butter-on-a-stick, fried cheesecake-on-a-stick, fried twinkies, etc. I'll enjoy them in honor of those who'd rather make us just 'eat our peas'!" she wrote.
A video, posted on the SarahPAC website mentions no specific stops, but it makes references to Harry Truman and Abraham Lincoln, who were from Missouri and Illinois respectively, fueling the speculation that Palin will take her bus tour through those Midwestern states.
But the planned visit to the Iowa State fair has gotten the most attention. The state fairgrounds are less than an hour south of Ames, the site of this weekend's Iowa straw poll and the unofficial kickoff of the Republican primary season.
Palin is not on the ballot there, but her visit threatens to overshadow the weekend's events, including a debate Thursday night with nearly every Republican candidate, including Mitt Romney and Jon Huntsman, who are also not part of the straw poll itself. Saturday's straw poll event could be a make-or-break moment for candidates like Tim Pawlenty or Michele Bachmann, who have been traveling Iowa constantly over the last few weeks and are relying on a strong showing for a necessary momentum boost for their campaigns.
Like Palin's last bus trip, taking some thunder away from Romney's big announcement, her trip to Iowa threatens to repeat her scene-stealing, this time possibly overshadowing the entire straw poll process.
But Palin is not alone. Texas Governor Rick Perry, who was hinted more at a presidential campaign than Palin has, is expected to make his plans more clear at event in South Carolina, another early voting state, on Saturday. He'll also visit New Hampshire this weekend and will arrive in Iowa for an event Sunday. While most of the political watchers will be keeping an eye on what happens in Ames on Saturday, they will have to keep an eye on both Palin and Perry who hope to step into a field of Republican candidates that most primary voters are not entirely satisfied with.
