Jennifer Jacobs

jejacobs@dmreg.com

Gov. Terry Branstad has landed a hot speaker for his upcoming birthday bash: Chris Christie, considered one of the GOP's most formidable potential candidates for the 2016 presidential lineup.

The bash will be Oct. 25, organizers told The Des Moines Register on Monday.

That's earlier than usual. Branstad's 68th birthday isn't until Nov. 17, but he and his campaign aides clearly want to rake in a little extra cash before closing out this fall's election. Branstad is seeking a history-making sixth term as governor. The vote is Nov. 4.

The news comes as Christie, the outspoken governor of New Jersey, has been projecting an image of well-being and fitness for a possible presidential bid, East Coast media have reported.

He told political donors in Manhattan this past weekend that he has dropped 85 pounds in the last year and a half, according to the New York Times. WNBC-TV in New York reported last week that U.S. Justice Department officials say there's no evidence so far that Christie orchestrated, or even knew about, plans to shut down lanes of a highly trafficked New York bridge as part of a political payback plot last year.

This will be Christie's second trip to the presidential testing grounds of Iowa in three months. He made his debut Iowa journey of the 2016 cycle in July.

A variety of potential presidential wannabes are buzzing about Iowa in coming days. Wisconsin U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan is doing a closed-press fundraiser for U.S. Senate candidate Joni Ernst and U.S. House candidate David Young this Saturday in West Des Moines.

That same night, Texas U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz and Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal will headline an Iowa Faith & Freedom Coalition event that's open to ticketed members of the public at the Iowa State Fairgrounds. On Oct. 1, U.S. Sen. Rob Portman of Ohio and U.S. Sen. John Thune of South Dakota will do a closed-press fundraiser for Ernst in West Des Moines. And U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida will be speak at a Scott County GOP fundraising dinner, open to ticketed guests, in Davenport on Oct. 28.

Christie, as head of the Republican Governors Association, has a legitimate reason for hopping from state to state, raising money for GOP governors. On July 18, he did a daylong jam-packed three-city Iowa tour, raising money for the Republican Governors Association at a suburban Des Moines party, for Iowa House Speaker Kraig Paulsen in Cedar Rapids, and for Branstad in Davenport. He also did an informal, free-of-charge meet-and-greet at M.J.'s Restaurant in Marion, mingling with a mob of Iowans and national press.

Branstad said in a statement provided to the Register that he's "very pleased" Christie will be back in Iowa for his birthday.

"He has provided unmatched leadership at the Republican Governors Association, which includes record-breaking fundraising during his tenure, and we are thankful for his continued efforts to help elect Republican governors across the country," Branstad said. "I am looking forward to a fun night with friends and family."

The GOP event is the same night as a big Democratic fete in Iowa. Minnesota U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar will be the keynote speaker at the Iowa Democratic Party's 2014 Jefferson Jackson dinner, one of the highlights of the year for Democratic party activists, on Oct. 25 at Hy-Vee Hall in downtown Des Moines. Tickets to the Democratic event are a minimum of $100 a person.

Branstad's birthday bash will take place at a different location than in previous years, at the Seven Flags Event Center in Clive. Attendance is expected to hit 800 to 1,000. Tickets to the Republican event are a minimum of $65.

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ABOUT THE EVENT

Here are the details from the Branstad campaign:

WHAT: Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad's Birthday Bash, featuring Chris Christie

WHEN: 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 25

WHERE: Seven Flags Event Center, 2100 NW 100th St., Clive, IA 50325

TICKETS: Minimum of $65 each