VP Biden, San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro to be Guests at Harkin Steak Fry: Ready or Not, Presidential Campaign Season is Here Again

In case you hadn't heard with all the buzz from the recent Family Leader Summit and the Emily's List forum, it's that time again. Presidential campaigning time. Yes, already.

Senator Tom Harkin announced today that Vice President Joe Biden and San Antonio Mayor Julián Castro will be the featured guests at his 36th Annual Steak Fry in September.

True, the next presidential election isn't until 2016. But the nation's politicians and media have apparently decided that's soon enough to start visiting Iowa and speculating on what those visits mean. Does this mean Biden will run for president again? Castro is a rising party star - what does the visit say about his future aspirations?

Whether you care about these questions or would like to avoid presidential politics until at least after the 2014 Congressional battle is over, it may be too late to ignore the start of the next campaign season. 

Past Harkin Steak Fry special guests have included Presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton, Senator Al Franken and all of the major Democratic presidential candidates in 2003 and 2007.  

The event will be held Sunday, Sept. 15 from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Warren County Fairgrounds.