Parties hold state conventions today

The state’s two major political parties will hold their state conventions today (Saturday) in Des Moines. Delegates at the Republican state convention will have an opportunity to meet four potential presidential candidates. Virginia Senator George Allen, Kansas Senator Sam Brownback, New York Governor George Pataki and Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney will all be there. Pataki just this week unveiled his leadership team in Iowa and it includes former Iowa Senate Republican Leader Stewart Iverson who announced this past Monday that he wouldn’t seek re-election. It also includes former State Representative Loras Schulte who has been a long-time party activist. Republican gubernatorial candidate Jim Nussle is scheduled to speak to GOP delegates shortly before 11 o’clock today. Democratic gubernatorial candidate Chet Culver will address his party’s delegates at about two o’clock this afternoon. Governor Tom Vilsack will introduce Culver but there are no other Democratic presidential hopefuls in the state this weekend.