Cedar Rapids Bidding for State GOP Convention

So will Iowa Republicans converge on Cedar Rapids just after the second anniversary of the flood to anoint their gubernatorial nominee and his running mate? Possibly.

Cedar Rapids is bidding for the Republican State Convention, along with six other cities. Susan Lloyd, convention marketing manager for the CR Convention and Visitors Bureau, says we could find out the GOP's pick in the next couple of weeks.

"It would be a fantastic win for Cedar Rapids," Lloyd said, pointing out the fact that the convention would give politicos, lawmakers, media and other very important persons a chance to see how the city has and hasn't recovered from the 2008 flood.

Republicans are critical of Culver's flood response, so some of that imagery, and the symbolism of gathering here, could be politically potent. Republicans last convened in CR in 2002.

Still, attacking Gov. Chet Culver's big I-JOBS bonding program could be a little tougher in the U.S. Cellular Center, which is slated to get a $15 million slice for upgrades and expansion. Several flooded facilities here are also getting I-JOBS bucks.

It's tough to argue for both more and less flood response.  But hey, it's politics.

Cedar Rapids can clearly use the business that 3,000 attendees could bring to town. That's good old fashioned Chamber of Commerce Republicanism right there.

Cedar Rapids is up against Des Moines, Dubuque, Waterloo, Sioux City, Council Bluffs and Ames.