The Democratic and Republican presidential front-runners will be absent from an Iowa immigration forum this weekend. In fact, 14 Republican presidential hopefuls were invited but made no confirmations. The only Democrats attending: former Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley and former Sen. Lincoln Chafee, D-R.I.

From Storm Lake on Aug. 29, the #UniteIowa forum on immigration has been aimed to "create an oasis for thoughtful dialogue in the middle of another presidential caucus cycle when the rhetoric tends to divide us." The event is free and open to the public from Buena Vista University, and organizers invited most of the Democratic and Republican presidential candidates but only two returned the message.

In the Republican field, the following candidates were invited but have not made confirmations or declined: businessman Donald Trump, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson, former HP CEO Carly Fiorina, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, former Texas Gov. Rick Perry, former Sen. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania, Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, Ohio Gov. John Kasich, Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida, Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky and Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas.

From the Democratic field, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Independent Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, Chafee and O'Malley were invited. Chafee and O'Malley have been confirmed.

The O'Malley for President campaign slated the absence of Clinton, widely considered the Democratic presidential front-runner, and Sanders.

"Democrats should not cede the immigration debate to Donald Trump, but that's exactly what they do when they skip critical forums like the first-ever UNITE Iowa immigration forum," said O'Malley Spokeswoman Gabi Domenzain in a statement. "If anything, it shows that Democrats are all words and no action when it comes to immigration."

Domenzain acknowledged O'Malley accomplishments toward immigrants including passing Maryland's DREAM Act and drivers licenses for undocumented immigrants.

"Everywhere he goes -- from New York to Phoenix, from Nashua to Cedar Rapids -- Governor O'Malley is unafraid to talk to about his record on these issues and his progressive plan to fix our inhumane immigration system. Leadership is about forging a new consensus, and that is what Governor O'Malley is doing by talking about immigration in every community -- not just in front of a Latino audience."

Domenzain may be referring to Clinton's immigration roundtable in May from Nevada. Clinton's immigration discussion included only Latinos affected by the immigration debate. On July 15, O'Malley held his first immigration roundtable discussion in New York City, which included representation from multiple ethnicities and where he revealed his immigration reform plan.

In an emailed statement sent to Latin Post from Hillary for America Director of Hispanic Media Jorge Silva, "While Hillary is unable to attend the Unite Iowa Immigration event this weekend, she looks forward to continuing a conversation with voters in Iowa and across the country about the importance of fixing our broken immigration system."

According to Silva, a surrogate will be in Iowa on behalf of Clinton, and it's a notable Latino figure: Rep. Joaquin Castro, D-Texas. Progress Iowa noted Castro will be featured in a discussion about progressive ideas on Sunday, Aug. 30. Unlike the #UniteIowa event, the Progress Iowa Corn Feed includes an admission fee of $30 or $150 for the "Corn Feed VIP Reception."

A Sanders spokesperson said a busy schedule interfered with attending the Storm Lake event, but he "would have loved to attend." Bush spokesperson Emily Benavides said a formal invitation was not received and the former Florida governor will not be in the state under short notice.

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For the latest updates, follow Latin Post's Politics Editor Michael Oleaga on Twitter: @EditorMikeO or contact via email: m.oleaga@latinpost.com.

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