Republican Mitt Romney is placing television ads in Minnesota, a move that pushes his presidential campaign into a state Democrats have held for more than three decades.

Republicans and Democrats who track campaign spending confirmed late Thursday that Romney will begin running ads in Minnesota over the weekend. The investment is described as a small buy that Democrats suggest is simply intended to generate media coverage and force President Barack Obama's campaign to invest there as well.

Romney's campaign would not comment on its advertising strategy.

The move comes as the Republican's campaign works to expand its path to the 270 electoral votes required to win the presidency.

Richard Nixon in 1972 was the last Republican to carry Minnesota.

---

Associated Press writer Julie Pace contributed to this report.