Republican National Convention: Reporter’s Notebook Day 4, hanging with the Iowa delegates in Rock and Roll town

A roundup of news from the Republican National Convention:

ROCK ON: Iowa delegates got a look Thursday at Cleveland's Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, in particular an exhibit that traced music's relationship with politics.

On display were the 'censored” T-shirt and sleeveless denim jacket worn by Twisted Sisters' Dee Snider when he was called before the Senate Commerce Committee in 1985 investigating lyrics.

A number of displays showed politicians with musicians: George W. Bush and Bono, Barack Obama and Beyonce, Dwight Eisenhower and Mahalia Jackson.

A 10-minute video also included the history of rock musicians trying to stop politicians from using their music on the campaign trail. (The list that was linked to the McCain-Palin 2008 presidential ticket was lengthy enough to require a scroll.)

Delegate Randy Feenstra, a senator from Hull, confided he sported a mullet and liked metal bands like Motley Crew and Guns ‘N Roses during his youth 'back in the day;” former Iowa Secretary of State Matt Schultz of Truro likes U2; U.S. Rep. Steve King, R-Kiron, Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds and Sen. Jake Chapman of Adel all professed to be Elvis fans.

Delegate Bill Anderson, a senator from Pierson, said seeing the Michael Jackson exhibit was a highlight.

'I grew up in the ‘80s, so that was pretty cool to see the glove and some of the costumes that he wore,” Anderson said.

Gov. Terry Branstad recalled a Buffalo Center musical family who did a song for his first campaign in 1982. And while he couldn't recall the name of the tune, he did remember a song that became the campaign theme for Iowa Gov. Bob Ray, called 'Step to the Rear (and Let a Winner Lead the Way.)”

'They used it again and again and again, even in his fifth term when I was running for lieutenant governor I think they still brought Marylin Maye back for the inauguration,” he said. 'If you talk to older people in Iowa, they'll remember it.”

FAREWELL PEP RALLY: Gov. Terry Branstad used the last day of this week's GOP convention to turn the focus of Iowa's delegates to the work that awaits them at home with the kickoff of the 2016 general election campaign.

'We need to motivate the grass roots,” he told the 30 delegates and convention alternates at a breakfast meeting.

The six-term governor called on Republicans to support Donald Trump and Mike Pence at the top of the ticket, and work to get U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley and Iowa's three GOP congressmen re-elected, retain control of the Iowa House and win a majority in the Iowa Senate for the first time in a decade.

'Usually the difference between winning and losing is hard work,” Branstad said.

CONVENTION CASUALTY: It's no secret unity has been elusive at the convention.

Another sign Thursday: An Iowa delegate at the forefront of an effort to find somebody other than Trump to be the GOP presidential nominee is leaving the party.

Cecil Stinemetz, of Urbandale, sent an email entitled: 'Why I walked out and leaving the Republican Party.”

Stinemetz accused the party of 'thuggery” in connection with Monday's floor fight over whether to have a vote on convention rules.

At first there appeared enough states asking for a vote for one to proceed. But a handful of those states withdrew, prompting a demonstration.

'The threats and intimidation from those who want to keep a tight grip on power so that only a few can tell everyone else what to do and what to think and how to vote,” he wrote.