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An Iowa City event which had drawn a great deal of national attention has been partially postponed to allow presidential hopefuls who are also U.S. senators to travel back to the beltway for debate on a bill.

The Iowa Professional Fire Fighters State Convention was to host presidential hopefuls Tuesday and Wednesday. Gov. Bill Richarson, Sen. Barack Obama, former Sen. John Edwards, Sen. Chris Dodd and Sen. Hillary Clinton confirmed they would be in attendance. Delaware Attorney General Beau Biden was also scheduled to appear and represent his father, Sen. Joe Biden. There was also speculation that Pres. Bill Clinton would appear beside his wife for the event.

The fire fighters have decided to postpone this portion of their convention when it was learned the event conflicted with debate on the Employee Free Choice Act. This piece of legislation is considered to be one of the highest priorities for labor this year. Debate on the bill began last week and a cloture vote is expected this week.

The House version was passed with a wide margin in March. In the Senate, however, much more resistance is expected.

A rescheduling date is not known at this time. It is anticipated that non-senatorial hopefuls -- Gov. Richardson, A.G. Biden and former Sen. Edwards -- will address the convention as scheduled.