The party’s over and the campaigning begins, with democratic nominee Al Gore headed to Iowa late tonight. Republican candidate George W. Bush is due in Des Moines Monday night. Gore has stops scheduled in Guttenberg, Dubuque, Bellevue, Clinton, Muscatine, Burlington and Keokuk. Iowa Democratic Party Chair Rob Tully says Gore’s two-day trip illustrates how tight the race in Iowa is between the two candidates.Rayme Nuckles of Fort Dodge was at his first convention this past week, and the experience boosted his commitment to the Gore/Lieberman ticket. He says the energy level on the floor is “exuberating.”Dr. Debra Turner of Mason City, a member of the Democratic National Committee, has been to four different conventions. She says she’s enjoyed this convention the most.Some democrat leaders worry Gore’s support among union workers is weak because of his support for lowering trade barriers, but Jan Corderman, head of Iowa’s largest union for government workers, disagrees.Corderman is president of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees union Iowa local. She was also a delegate at the Democratic National Convention.
