Rand Paul to headline Iowa Republican Party dinner

Political observers take note: Rand Paul will headline the Iowa Republican Party's annual Lincoln Day dinner this spring, the party announced Tuesday.

"Rand Paul is one of the most talked about Republican Leaders in the country," the state's party event website boasts of the Kentucky senator, who recently waged a 13-hour filibuster of John Brennan's nomination to head the CIA over the administration's use of unmanned drone strikes.

Much speculation surrounds Paul's future political aspirations and whether he will follow in the footsteps of his father, Ron Paul (who most recently ran for president in 2012) and seek the presidency in 2016. Heading up a Lincoln Day dinner in Iowa—the first-in-the-nation caucus state—is likely to boost speculation Paul is considering a bid since potential candidates often test their appeal in Iowa long before committing to a campaign.

Paul, a tea party favorite, on Tuesday urged conservatives to support a pathway to legality for illegal immigrants. On Monday, the Republican National Committee recommended pursuing immigration reform following significant losses in 2012 among Hispanic voters.

Dinner tickets to the May 10 fundraising dinner featuring Paul are $50; another $100 gets you an additional VIP reception with the Kentucky senator. Tables are being sold for $450, according to the website, which reads that individual tickets were priced "as low as possible in order to bring as many Republicans and independents into the party."

(h/t The Des Moines Register)

Chris Moody contributed to this report.