Paul, Santorum to campaign in Minnesota this weekend

Republican presidential candidates Ron Paul and Rick Santorum are still trailing Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich in polls and the number of delegates.

Ron Paul

But both are scheduled to make a number of appearances in Minnesota this weekend in the run-up to the Minnesota caucuses Tuesday.

Paul, who is the most libertarian-leaning candidate in the field, is scheduled to host two townhall meetings in Rochester and Chanhassen, before ending the night with a rally at Bethel University in Arden Hills on Saturday. The first townhall meeting is scheduled at 11 a.m. at Mayo High School, followed by a townhall meeting at the Auto Motorplex at 2 p.m. The rally at Bethel is scheduled to be at Benson Great Hall at 5:30 p.m.

Santorum, perhaps the biggest social conservative still in the race and eeked out at win in the Iowa caucuses Jan. 3, made his first state appearance as a candidate in Luverne Monday evening. He will be making campaign stops in Eden Prairie, Bemidji, and Lake Waconia.

His first event will be at Grace Church in Eden Prairie at 9:30 a.m., where he is scheduled to speak for 15 minutes to the congregation. His next stop will be at a campaign breakfast at St. Philip's Catholic Church in Bemidji at 12:30 p.m., followed by a tour of Bemidji Woolen Mills at 1 p.m. (His website noted that they're the official manufacturer of Rick Santorum for President sweater vests). He'll then end the day at a party at Sovereign Estate Wine at Lake Waconia at 5:30 p.m.

Rick Santorum

Romney, meanwhile, made an appearance in the Twin Cities Tuesday, while Gingrich has yet to schedule a campaign stop.

I plan to cover the Paul and Santorum events, along with any events from Romney and Gingrich when they are scheduled. I am also trying to get quick Q&As with the candidates, but so far it hasn't happened.

More to come!