Already leading in the polls in South Carolina, Gov. Rick Perry of Texas is focusing on that crucial primary state over the Labor Day weekend.

Perry will be hosting a town hall event in Myrtle Beach on Monday along with U.S. Rep. Tim Scott, R-S.C.

I am proud to welcome Governor Perry to Myrtle Beach to meet our voters, said Scott. Since his announcement speech in Charleston just over two weeks ago, the governor has excited our electorate, and I look forward to continuing that conversation.

A national poll released by Quinnipiac University on Wednesday found that former Gov. Mitt Romney of Massachusetts was tied with President Barack Obama, and Gov. Rick Perry of Texas was right on the presidents heels. The poll also found that Perry was beating Romney for the Republican nomination.

On Tuesday, state Department of Transportation Secretary Ananth Prasad announced that he was appointing Brian Blanchard, who had been chief engineer in the department, as the assistant secretary for engineering and operations.

Incoming Florida Senate President Don Gaetz, R-Niceville, formally endorsed Gov. Rick Perry of Texas for the Republican presidential nomination on Tuesday.

On Tuesday, former state House Majority Leader Adam Hasner, now part of a crowded field of Republican candidates looking to challenge Democratic U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, announced that he had the support of former Florida House Speaker Larry Cretul. Cretul, who served as speaker while Hasner was majority leader, will be a co-chairman of the Hasner campaign.

Cretul praised his former House colleague in his endorsement.

Former state House Majority Leader Adam Hasner, now in a crowded Republican primary looking to take on Democratic U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson in 2012, took aim at President Barack Obamas appointment of Alan Krueger to lead the White House Council of Economic Advisers.

The Republican candidates looking to challenge Democratic U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson in 2012 continue to spar over who is the real conservative in the race.

The latest attack comes from the team behind former U.S. Sen. George LeMieux and they are taking aim at former state House Majority Leader Adam Hasner for a mailing in 2004 which included a clip from a newspaper praising him for moderate leanings.

Former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania is heading back home to the Keystone State, the first time he has returned to his base since his fourth place finish in the Iowa straw poll held in Ames earlier in the month.

The Santorum camp has insisted their fundraising has picked up after Ames and there is more interest in Pennsylvania in the campaign. Santorum will be in Old Forge on Monday before heading to Harrisburg and Centre Hall on Tuesday.

Is Newt Gingrich making a comeback in the Republican presidential race?