Iowa Democrats gathered Saturday night for a fundraiser in downtown Des Moines while at the same time Iowa Republicans gathered in a Des Moines suburb for Republican Governor Terry Branstad’s campaign fundraiser. New Jersey Governor Chris Christie — the big name get for Branstad’s “Birthday Bash” — used most of his 15-minute speech to blast President Obama.  “We’ve now had six years where the world has been adrift because of the lack and failure of American leadership,” Christie said.

Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar was the keynote speaker at the Iowa Democratic Party’s Jefferson-Jackson Day Dinner. “Chris Christie is actually here to film a movie sequel: ‘The Closed Bridges of Madison County,'” Klobuchar said. Last fall aides to Christie ordered lanes on a heavily traveled bridge to be blocked, causing traffic snarls in a town where the mayor had not endorsed Christie’s bid for reelection.

Christie has said he had no knowledge or involvement in the bridge closure. On Sunday at noon, Iowa Democrats launched a tour designed to hold an event in each of Iowa’s 99 counties within 24 hours. The blitz will conclude with a rally in Davenport at 10 a.m. today (Monday) featuring Vice President Joe Biden. Also on Sunday Republican House Speaker John Boehner campaigned with David Young, the G-O-P candidate in Iowa’s third congressional district.

Boehner plans to campaign with Republican Rod Blum in the first district and Mariannette Miller-Meeks in the second district today (Monday). Senator Chuck Grassley will make eight campaign stops with G-O-P Senate candidate Joni Ernst today (Monday), plus Arizona Senator John McCain and Florida Senator Marco Rubio are due to campaign with Ernst this week as well.

On Wednesday, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will headline two campaign rallies in eastern Iowa for Bruce Braley, the Democrat running for the U.S. Senate, then her husband will campaign here for Braley on Saturday.

(Radio Iowa)

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

DURANT, Iowa (AP) — An eastern Iowa city may ban pets from its parks because of complaints about owners failing to pick up after their dogs. The Muscatine Journal reports the Durant City Council will vote Monday on the ban.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A new Iowa clean water rule designed to increase inspections of livestock farms and provide stricter enforcement over manure spills is now in effect after a year of hearings and deliberations by government agencies. The rule, which took effect Wednesday, establishes new inspection and permit procedures. It does not impose mandatory permits for farms that repeatedly spill manure, a measure some environmental groups including Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement want.

TABOR, Iowa (AP) — The police chief in the small Iowa town of Tabor has agreed to take on another role by reopening the grocery store. The Council Bluffs Nonpareil reports Tabor residents have had to drive to larger towns for groceries since the Tabor Market and Deli closed. Wake will serve as the store’s manager and the city’s police chief.

MASON CITY, Iowa (AP) — Two days after an Iowa fast-food worker’s bicycle was stolen from outside the Culver’s restaurant where he worked someone surprised him with a new one. The Globe Gazette reports Nathan King came out of the Mason City restaurant Saturday and found a new silver Schwinn hybrid bike waiting for him.

A southwest Iowa man was arrested for “Breach of Peace,” early this (Sunday) morning. According to Red Oak Police, 25-year old Cody Linn Hudson, of Emerson, was taken into custody a little after 2-a.m. in the 900 block of east Hammond Street, in Red Oak. Hudson was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on $300 cash bond.