Party politics have Iowa delegates hopping
By MADHUSMITA BORA
Cocktails, dinners and political hobnobbing are just one part of the Republican National Convention. The Iowa delegates are also getting serious business done this week.
Celebrating their success at retaining Iowa's status for holding the first presidential caucuses in the nation, the delegates on Monday seem pepped-up for the anticipated formal selection of George W. Bush as the GOP presidential nominee Thursday.
"It is a giant pep rally," said Roger Pease, the delegate from Cedar Falls. "The excitement is just building up and as days go by there will be less of sleep and more of excitement."
The Iowans were guests at a barbecue Sunday afternoon, hosted by their convention hotel; Monday night, they went to the Lumber Association's cocktail party and, after the convention, were invited to a reception at the Navy Yard Cruise Ship Terminal sponsored by the National Republican Senatorial Committee.
But Monday morning was all business, as the delegates were addressed by Gov. Jim Gilmore of Virginia, who is also the co-chairman for the Bush Victory 2000 campaign.
Gilmore said education has been an issue more associated with Democrats until recently, but criticized their vision for improving education. He said education is not about pumping money into the system, but about quality and accountability.
"The Democrats have just pumped money to reform the education system, but they lack vision," Gilmore said. "Iowa being the first state to hold the caucus has a very important role to play to steer the nation in the right direction. We need to elect George W. Bush to help give quality education to our kids."
The delegates were shown a documentary outlining Bush's education policy.
"Education tops the priority list as far as issues are concerned," said Ron Herrig, a delegate from Dubuque.
But Pease said defense and taxes are equally important.
In the next few days the delegates are going to discuss various other issues important to the GOP, including the controversial issue of abortion.
"There is difference of opinion about that (abortion) issue, but Gov. Bush has handled it pretty well and I don't think there will be much hue and cry over that one now," Pease said.
