Politics in Iowa City Next Week: County GOP to Picket Hiring Discrimination Against Conservatives; Dems to Rally for Obama

I guess it must be the season for politics again.

With Rick Santorum's challenge to Mitt Romney now in serious doubt, it's looking like the presidential election season is about to start. And on that subject, two political gatherings are going to be held next week on the campus: one by Democrats, the other by Republicans.

Next Tuesday, Democrats will be hosting a Greater Together Youth Summit in support of President Barack Obama's reelection bid. The event will feature Obama backer Kal Penn of "Harold & Kumar" and "House" fame. Doors are scheduled to open there at 5:00 p.m. at the Iowa City .

Not to be outdone, the Johnson County Republicans are holding an event of their own. It follows , an event hosted by UI College Republicans. On Monday, the county GOP plans to picket the university near Jessup Hall in solidarity with Teresa Wagner, who is suing the university with a claim that her political beliefs prevented her from getting a position on the UI faculty that she was qualified to receive.

That protest will be at noon to 1 p.m.