DES MOINES (AP) - Top Democrats and Republicans have agreed to postpone the party's state convention because of flooding and violent weather battering the state.

Both Democrats and Republicans had been scheduled to hold the respective state conventions in Des Moines on Saturday just blocks apart, drawing big names in both parties.

Iowa Democratic Chairman Scott Brennan announced Thursday afternoon, however, that his party's state convention would be postponed. He said many would have difficulty getting to Des Moines and many others are dealing with the fallout of the violent weather.

A new date for the convention will be set in the near future, he said.

Republicans said they would reschedule their conventions for July 11 and July 12.

Both Democrats and Republicans were expected to use the conventions to finish the chore of nominating delegates to the parties' national nominating conventions, craft party platforms and hear speeches from top party officials.

Democrats need to elect 54 delegates to the convention in Denver while Republicans need to fill 40 slots for their convention in St. Paul.

Both conventions were expected to attract prominent out of state politicians. Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Missouri was scheduled to make a pitch on behalf of nominee-in-waiting Barack Obama. Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee and former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich were scheduled to speak to the GOP convention.

Though Huckabee won the Iowa's precinct caucuses in January, his pitch was aimed at firing up activists on behalf of John McCain, the GOP's presumptive nominee. Many of Huckabee's supporters are social conservatives who have proven leery of McCain.

McCain finished fourth in Iowa. Strategists in both parties say he faces a tough fight in November in the state.