When President Bush accepts the Republican Party nomination Sept. 2 in New York, Cathy Grawe will be there for the first time along with thousands of other Bush supporters.

If you go • What: Republican Women for Bush will host a "Watching Party" in Iowa City for the Republican National Convention in New York Aug. 30-Sept. 2. • When: 6:30 p.m. Sept. 2. • Where: Quality Inn Highlander, 2525 N. Dodge St., Iowa City. • How much: Free. • Information: Call Margaret McDonald at 338-4208 by Aug. 27 to reserve a seat.

As the Democratic National Convention wrapped up Thursday in Boston, Grawe turned off the television to concentrate on preparing for her trip to New York. She said she was weary of watching and listening to "inconsistencies" by Democratic Party speakers, anyway.

Grawe, campaign chairwoman for the Johnson County Republicans, already made plans to hook up with delegates from other states and attend a broadway show.

"I'm looking forward to seeing anybody," Grawe said of potential speakers. "It's going to be such a wonderful experience."

About three dozen delegates from Iowa will travel to the convention. Already, she has received several invitations to attend events in the Big Apple.

Meanwhile, in Iowa City, members of Republican Women for Bush are hosting a "watching party" on Sept. 2 at the Quality Inn Highlander in Iowa City, said Margaret McDonald, who with Grawe is co-chairwoman of the Johnson County Republicans.

"I think people that are involved in the political system are much more apt to watch the convention because it's an exciting time for the country," McDonald said. "They're interested in whether there will be a change or there won't be a change, and I think those who work in the system are very interested in seeing that our president is re-elected."

McDonald has campaigned for Ronald Reagan, George H. Bush and Gerald Ford, among others. She said she believes in George W. Bush because she thinks he knows what he is doing and voters should watch the convention to be informed of his platform.

"I think that he has proved to the nation that he cares about what happens,not just in our country but in the world, and he and his cabinet are doing a great job with defending our country," McDonald said. "Not only that, but with programs that he's introduced nationally with better education and so on. He has magnetism about him but he's down to earth. He's very open and easy to be around."

About a half dozen similar parties also will take place throughout the county on Sept. 2, said David Arbogast, chairman of the county's Republican Central Committee.

"Four years ago we weren't geting anything close to this level of enthusiasm, and now I get one or two calls a day from people that had no previous involvement in the Republican Party," Arbogast said. "I find it very surprising this early in the campaign."