The Associated Press

WASHINGTON—Let the 2012 presidential race begin — or at least the speculation about it.

From their travel schedules to their public comments, several Republicans seem to be testing the waters for potential White House runs. At least two are on tap for visits this month to Iowa, which traditionally opens the nominating season with its presidential caucuses.

Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, considered a rising star in the GOP and thought to be on John McCain’s short list of potential running mates, is slated to deliver the keynote address on Nov. 22 to the Iowa Family Policy Center, a prominent Christian conservative group.

And former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, who won the Iowa caucuses this year in his failed bid for the GOP nomination, is scheduled to visit the state on Nov. 20 as part of a nationwide book tour promoting his campaign memoir, “Do the Right Thing.”

Sarah Palin, who became McCain’s running mate, has signaled that she will remain on the national political scene. The Alaska governor says: “I’m not doing this for naught.” And former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, who also failed to win the nomination this year, has restarted his political action committee.

Speculation about possible candidacies is certain to swirl when Republican governors meet in Florida later this week.