Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky. addresses the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in Washington, Thursday, Feb. 10, 2011. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul will be the keynote speaker at the Republican Party of Iowa’s Lincoln Day Dinner in May.

Iowa GOP Chairman A.J. Spiker says Tuesday that the potential 2016 presidential candidate will appear at the annual spring dinner. He says he wants to give Paul an opportunity to introduce himself to Iowa, the nation’s leadoff caucus state.

The dinner will be held May 10 in Cedar Rapids. Tickets start at $50 to attend the dinner and $150 to go to the dinner and a reception with Paul.

Conservative activists recently gave Paul a narrow victory in a presidential preference poll. Paul won the straw poll on Saturday at the Conservative Political Action Conference. The poll is considered largely symbolic.