WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Several presidential hopefuls plan busy weekends on the campaign trail as the 2008 election cycle reaches a feverish pitch a year before the first wave of primary voters weigh in.

Five likely presidential candidates, former Gov. George Pataki, R-New York; former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, R; former Gov. Mitt Romney, R-Massachusetts; Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-New York; and Gov. Bill Richardson, D-New Mexico; will make key appearances in the coming days to build support for their nascent White House bids.

Pataki heads to Washington, DC Friday to deliver a speech titled "A Way Forward in Iraq" at Georgetown University. Pataki has yet to form a presidential exploratory committee, but has acknowledged he is actively considering a bid for the White House.

Giuliani heads to New Hampshire Friday to meet with local business leaders at the Littleton Chamber of Commerce's annual dinner in Bretton Woods. Giuliani is then slated to deliver the keynote address at the Granite State GOP's annual meeting on Saturday in Manchester.

Romney will head to Iowa Friday to attend a luncheon with GOP activists in Waterloo, before he tours a renewable energy plant in Fairbank. The Massachusetts Republican heads to Washington, DC Saturday to deliver a keynote address at the National Review Institute's Conservative Summit.

Clinton makes her first visit to Iowa as a presidential candidate on Saturday. She's scheduled to make her first stop in Des Moines, where she will attend an Iowa Democratic Party central committee meeting at their headquarters. Next, she heads to East High School for a town-hall discussion. On Saturday night the New York Democrat will travel to Davenport for a house party her campaign is calling "A Conversation with Iowans." On Sunday, Clinton will host a reception at the Hickory Garden Family Restaurant in Davenport before holding a media availability at Central High School.

Richardson heads to the western battleground state of Nevada Saturday to appear with former presidential candidate Wesley Clark at the Douglas County Democratic Central Committee's third annual "Turn Nevada Blue Dinner." The Nevada Democratic caucus was moved up in the calendar this election cycle by the Democratic National Committee, and will be held right after the Iowa caucus and before the New Hampshire primary.