[img_assist|nid=168|title=Jeff Beatty (R)|desc=|link=none|align=left|width=87|height=157]BLOOMINGTON, Minn. -- Jeff Beatty, the Republican challenging U.S. Sen. John Kerry, said Thursday that he is looking forward to returning to Massachusetts Friday, where he'll immediately hit the campaign trail.

Beatty told PolitickerMA.com that he has a campaign event scheduled in Springfield Friday afternoon "about an hour" after he returns from Minnesota.

"We'll be out in the RV for 60 days straight," Beatty said.

The campaign, Beatty added, will step up its phone banking and fundraising efforts. "Everything we've been doing so far, just with more intensity," Beatty said.