Ted Cruz to keynote Tea Party rally in Fla.

Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) will keynote a major Tea Party gathering in Florida hosted by Americans for Prosperity, the group announced Friday night, a move that will further fuel speculation about his potential interest in running for president.

{mosads}Cruz, who has fast become a Tea Party favorite, will join Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) and conservative commentator Michelle Malkin at the event, scheduled for Labor Day weekend in Orlando. Interestingly, Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) has been previously announced as a speaker at the event, but was not mentioned in the group’s release announcing Cruz.

The Texas senator is making all the necessary moves ahead of a potential presidential run: He’s also set to visit Iowa twice this summer, and has already been to South Carolina.

Headlining an event of a major Tea Party organization whose primary backers are the powerful Koch brothers is just the latest sign that he’s testing the waters on a potential presidential bid.