ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Texas Sen. Ted Cruz's venture outside the early-voting states in the Republican presidential nominating contest is bringing him to Minnesota.

Cruz, who has risen steadily among GOP hopefuls, was holding a rally Thursday on Harriet Island. It's part of a multi-day, multi-state swing through states that hold primaries or caucuses on March 1. That's known as Super Tuesday in the nominating race.

Cruz has been spending most of his time lately campaigning in the leadoff state of Iowa and in South Carolina, which holds a mid-February primary.

He's the second presidential candidate to campaign in Minnesota this week, following Democrat Hillary Clinton on Tuesday.

Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul and former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush have also made recent stops in the state.

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