CHEYENNE - Republicans will get a rare opportunity this weekend to show beyond any doubt that Democratic candidates are all wet.

All they need is $5 and a pretty good throwing arm.

The Converse County Democratic Party will host a "Dunk a Democrat" booth at Jackalope Days in Douglas today. Wyoming's four candidates for federal office - House candidate Gary Trauner and Senate candidates Chris Rothfuss, Nick Carter and Keith Goodenough - all have volunteered to perch themselves above what promises to be chilly water.

Five dollars buys six throws with a softball. Hit the target - in goes a Democrat.

"All I can tell you, it was darn cold last year," said Trauner, who took part in the inaugural Dunk a Democrat.

But Converse County Democratic Party Chairwoman Liz Batton might get the last laugh - all the way to the bank. She hopes for her biggest fundraiser of the year.

She aims to double the $400 brought in by last year's Dunk a Democrat.

"That would be me contributing to their campaign," groused one local Republican, state Rep. Dave Edwards. Even so, Edwards said he might "saunter down" to downtown Douglas and see "Keith Goodenough get water up his nose."

With a more than 4-to-1 ratio of registered Republicans to registered Democrats in Converse County, there should be no shortage of wily-eyed ball throwers.

"Some very, very dedicated Democrats are offering themselves up for the greater good for the Converse County Democratic Party," said Bill Luckett, executive director of the Wyoming Democratic Party. "It's a commitment. It's a sacrifice. It's one of those things that needs to be done if we're serious about this election."

Trauner said the important thing is having fun while meeting voters.

"If this is one of the ways we can do that, I'm willing to take my licks," he said.

Jackalope Days is named for Wyoming's official mythical creature, a taxidermic cross between a jackrabbit and an antelope. Other traditional Jackalope Days activities include pig wrestling, wiener dog races and a monster-truck mud bog.