Iowa Democrats, GOP prepare for delayed conventions

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By Fred Love | Monday, June 23, 2008 |

DES MOINES — Iowa Democrats are gearing up for their state convention Saturday after the event was postponed earlier this month due to flooding.

The state conventions for both major parties were scheduled for June 14, but party leaders on both sides decided to hold off until after the flooding crisis abated.

The GOP convention will be July 11 and 12.

Iowa Democratic Party Chairman Scott Brennan said his party wanted to give Iowans a chance to catch their breath in the wake of the floods before holding the convention.

“Out of respect for folks who were injured and had their lives affected, we thought it would be much better postponing it,” Brennan said.

U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo., was originally scheduled to speak at the convention, but she won’t be able to attend Saturday because of scheduling conflicts and flooding concerns in her own state, he said.

McCaskill in January endorsed Barack Obama, the presumptive Democratic nominee for president and a senator from Illinois, and would have stumped for him at the state convention.

Iowa Gov. Chet Culver and U.S. Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, are both planning to attend, as well as other Democratic state lawmakers and officials, he said.

Brennan said he’d be interested in hosting another high-profile Democrat to speak at the convention if schedules allow it.

Delegates representing each county will attend the convention at Hy-Vee Hall in downtown Des Moines.

Iowa Democrats will host a hall of fame awards ceremony Friday to which tickets are still available, he said.

The Republican Party of Iowa originally intended to host former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, who won the Iowa caucuses on the GOP side in January before ending his run for the White House.

Republican Party of Iowa Executive Director Caleb Hunter said Gingrich most likely won’t be able to attend, but he said Huckabee may still make the convention, also to be held in Hy-Vee Hall.

Hunter also said he expects a slew of state and federally elected Iowa Republicans to attend.

He said the party didn’t take the decision to postpone the convention lightly.

“But we’re aware of the absolute devastation that’s happening across the state,” he said.

The state conventions will determine who will represent Iowa at the national party conventions later this year, where delegates will decide who will top the presidential tickets for each party.

However, Obama and U.S. Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., appear to have already locked up their respective party nominations.

Fred Love can be contacted at (515) 243-0138 or fred.love@lee.net.