Updated

Traveling the path of any serious presidential candidate, the Rev. Al Sharpton is heading to the critical presidential primary states of New Hampshire and Iowa this month as part of a "getting-to-know-you tour."

Sharpton, a civil rights activist and perennial political candidate, has said that he is interested in a possible run for the Democratic nomination for president in 2004.

A press release from Sharpton's National Action Network said he will head to New Hampshire Feb. 17 to speak at Keene State College. He will also deliver a sermon at Rollins Chapel at Dartmouth University.

Sharpton will meet with local clergy and community leaders during a visit to Iowa on Feb. 26. He is scheduled to speak at the Des Moines Area Community College and preach at the Union Baptist Church.

Sharpton, whose most recent public cause has been to seek government relief for workers whose retirement accounts were bankrupted as a result of energy giant Enron's collapse, has previously run for the U.S. Senate and for mayor of New York, but has never held public office.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.