Sen. Sherrod Brown to tour early states before 2020 decision

WASHINGTON (AP) — Sen. Sherrod Brown is launching a tour of three states that cast pivotal early votes in the 2020 presidential primary.

The move from the Ohio Democrat is a key step before he decides whether to launch a campaign for the White House.

Brown won a third term in November on the strength of a message he calls the "Dignity of Work." He plans to use that motto for his forthcoming tour, which he announced Tuesday night on MSNBC.

It includes stops in Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina, as well as a kickoff in his home state. The 66-year-old has yet to decide whether to join a 2020 primary field that is expected to include as many as a half-dozen of his fellow Democratic senators.