Some of the most prominent Republicans at the national and state levels will join the ISU College Republicans on Friday night to rally in support of their party for the Nov. 7 midterm elections.

Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist of Tenn. – who will be joined by Rep. Tom Latham, Lt. Governor candidate Bob Vander Plaats and Iowa Secretary of Agriculture candidate Bill Northey – will deliver the keynote address during the ISU College Republicans’ annual dinner at the Gateway Hotel, 2100 Green Hills Drive.

Gubernatorial Candidate Jim Nussle may also attend but won’t know for certain until Friday night.

“I don’t think you can go anywhere and find a more impressive up-and-down list of speakers on Friday, Sept. 22,” said Donald McDowell, junior in political science and ISU College Republicans president.

McDowell said his group had been working with Frist’s office since June to iron out the details of the senator’s visit. Frist’s appearance, he said, offers a unique opportunity for the College Republicans to boost their popularity among students.

“It’s not every day the U.S. Senate majority leader comes to your club’s event,” he said.

“If your organization can prove it can put together a good event, your credibility goes way up.”

McDowell said he expects between 160 and 175 people to attend the event.

Chip Saltsman, senior political adviser for VOLPAC, Frist’s political action committee, said the senator’s remarks will focus on the importance of Iowa as a battleground state in the upcoming midterm elections.

Iowa will feature some of the most tightly contested races in the nation for spots in the state Legislature, where the Senate is divided evenly between Republicans and Democrats and Republicans cling to a two-seat advantage in the Iowa House.

“We’re going to be talking about the importance of electing Republicans all over the state,” Saltsman said. “It’s very important for everybody at every level to contribute to this campaign.”

Vander Plaats said Nussle’s responsibilities in Washington, D.C. may prevent him from knowing for certain if he can attend the dinner until Friday night.

“There is a possibility [Nussle] can make it,” he said. “He would love to show his support for the ISU College Republicans.”

Vander Plaats said he plans to talk about the importance of leadership within the Republican Party, as well as the importance of the upcoming election.

“I tell people to vote as if the future of our state depends on it,” he said, “because it does depend on it.”

Jennifer Crall, campaign manager for Latham, said the congressman has always supported College Republicans’ activities.

“He was invited to the dinner, and he was delighted to accept,” Crall said. “He believes deeply that these elections are very important and getting people involved at the earliest stages of their voting careers is critical.”