Sen. Tom Harkin was telling anyone who would listen at his annual steak fry Sunday about the similarities between the paths to national attention of Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama and Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer.

Sen. Tom Harkin, left, and Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer tend the the grills at Harkin's annual steak fry in Indianola.

Sen. Tom Harkin, left, and Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer tend the the grills at Harkin's annual steak fry in Indianola.

“Four years ago, Obama gave a great speech at the convention,” Harkin said. “Two years later, he spoke at the steak fry. Now look at him today.”

Schweitzer gave a great speech at this year’s Democratic National Convention, Harkin said, and he’s already speaking at the steak fry.

“Who knows what’s next for him,” he said.

Since his show-stopping performance in Denver last month, pundits quickly jumped on his bandwagon and started discussing his presidential campaign in 2016. Others speculate he could be named to a cabinet level position in the Obama administration. But today, Schweitzer was in Indianola to address Harkin’s annual steak fry, one of the biggest events of the year for Iowa Democrats and a launching pad for presidential dreams.

The focus of Schweitzer’s speech was energy, and he said that Republican slogans like “Drill, baby, drill” simply aren’t enough.

“We can’t drill our way out of our energy problem, and anyone who thinks we can is delusional,” he said. “Drilling is one aspect, but we need to focus on American sources of energy like biofuels, wind, and solar.”

Schweitzer said Republican nominee John McCain has spent his entire political life blocking renewable energy.

“He’s a senator from Arizona, and he even votes against the sun,” he said. “We can’t even count on him to support solar power.”

Schweitzer said that support for renewable energy is one of the biggest differences between an Obama or a McCain presidency. “McCain voted 25 times against renewable fuels,” he noted. “Biofuels are the future of America.”

Schweitzer, whose state is home to significant coal deposits, also voiced his support for so-called “clean-coal” technology, admitting that America cannot continue to use coal the way it always has.

On the political news of the day, the Montana governor said he was not surprised to see polls that show a tightening presidential race because everyone knew from the beginning the race would be tight.

“But most regular folks won’t be tuning in to this race until the first debate,” he said. “That’s when people will make up their minds and the real race begins.”

Schweitzer also suggested polls don’t reflect Obama’s support among young voters.

“If you want to start talking about the people who are underpolled, start talking about college students, start talking about young people,” Schweitzer said, implying phone polls don’t reach those who only have cell phones.

Harkin praised Schweitzer as one of the party’s best ‘W.M.D.’ — West of the Mississippi Democrats.

“He’s already speaking at the steak fry,” Harkin said. “He’s on the fast track.”

Around 1,000 people turned out for the event, a far cry from the throng of 15,000 who came last year to see the Democratic presidential candidates a few months before the caucuses.