Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty will add another stop on his nationwide tour next February -- he's slated to speak to the Alabama Republican Party's winter meeting.

The Alabama stop, first reported by Real Clear Politics, comes as Pawlenty has been building his national profile in what looks like an early play to replace President Obama in 2012.

Since Pawlenty announced he wouldn't run for a third term this summer, he's made political trips to California, Illinois, Puerto Rico, Florida, New Jersey, Virginia, Ohio, Washington, DC, Iowa and is slated to go to New Hampshire in December. Update: He's also stopped in Michigan, Arkansas and South Dakota and has plans to go to Texas.

Phillip Bryan, spokesman for the Alabama Republican Party, said Pawlenty's an appealing speaker for several reasons. In office, Pawlenty's worked to keep taxes low and introduced some merit pay for teachers, Bryan said. Bryan also said Pawlenty "brings a name to the fundraising event," and might raise local interest because his "name is being bounced around for 2012."