News/Campaigns

2012 Watch: Barbour to Iowa

Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour (R) is heading to Iowa at the end of June for an event sponsored by the Iowa Republican Party, the Iowa Republican reports.

Barbour is a leading voice in the GOP and is considered one of the party’s rising stars. He has been mentioned on several lists as a potential 2012 GOP presidential contender.

Barbour, a former chairman of the Republican National Committee will headline an event in Des Moines on June 25.

On Thursday Barbour was in D.C. and argued for the GOP to become a bigger tent party and embrace more centrists leaders.

And, as CQ reports, Barbour refused to close the door on running in 2012.

jeremy.jacobs@digital-staging.thehill.com