Details were sparse, but local Republicans were in high spirits a day before a visit by top White House adviser Karl Rove.

One important detail was known: Attendees at Lewis and Clark County Republican Central Committee's annual Lincoln-Reagan Dinner will dig into sirloin steaks.

With the help of Sen. Conrad Burns, R-Mont., Rove's visit comes 57 days after President George W. Bush visited Great Falls. The two high-profile events are almost too good to believe, say local Republicans, and is surely their biggest draw ever.

"We've got our fingers crossed that nothing will happen between now and (Thursday) night," said Bill Eiker, a central committee member, who helped plan the dinner. "We're blessed in Montana to be given the opportunity to be exposed to the heartbeat of national policy."

Rove, orginally from Denver, started working with the president during his successful '93 campaign for governor of Texas. He also engineered the president's two White House wins.

Organizers expect a full house at the Great Northern Best Western Hotel. A crowd of up to 300 will pay $100 each for dinner and a chance to hear the man who many praise -- or scorn -- as the architect of Bush's re-election campaign and conservative political agenda. The event is expected to draw top Republicans, including Burns, U.S. Rep. Denny Rehberg, Secretary of State Brad Johnson and state lawmakers.

In interest of security, the White House kept the event quiet, which was one reason it came as a bit of a surprise. Bill Snoddy, central committee chairman, said he was told Rove would visit the Queen City during the president's Feb. 2 visit.

Rove, who is officially a deputy White House chief of staff, will likely stay overnight, according to Allen Abney of the White House Office of Media Affairs, which handles inquiries from local press. Abney said he wasn't sure what else was on Rove's schedule.

Tickets were sold only in advance and the guest list was given the once-over by the White House, organizers said. Event advertising had to get the green light, and the dinner was scheduled to meet Rove's calendar. A cocktail hour and fund-raiser are on the agenda, but the topic of Rove's speech wasn't known. The event is open to the media.

Unlike they were for Bush's visit, Secret Service preparations have been low key. The Helena Police Department said no extra officers would be on duty. Helena Regional Airport director Ron Mercer said he found out about the visit in the newspaper.

Snoddy said he thinks local activists are being rewarded for all of their hard work during the 2004 campaign.

"Folks worked really hard to make a difference," Snoddy said. The Lincoln-Reagan Dinner will have a mostly local contingent. One woman is traveling all the way from Texas, he said.

- The visit comes months after Montana resoundingly backed the president at the polls by a 3-to-2 margin. At the same time, the GOP lost control of the Montana Legislature, the governor's office and garnered only one statewide office -- the secretary of state's.

While President Bush's visit kicked off discussion of Social Security privitization and reforms, Rove's appearance could bolster Sen. Burns' re-election run, according to Craig Wilson, MSU-Billings political science professor and pollster. A big-time event could help Burns shake any negative publicity surrounding what some have said are improper financial ties with a lobbying firm and a Michigan tribe, Wilson said. Burns, the longest serving Republican senator in Montana history, said he'll run for a fourth term in 2006.

Rove's visit comes one day after another Bush Cabinet member visited the Treasure State. U.S. Treasury Secretary John Snow told Bozeman business leaders Wednesday that Social Security reforms are needed.

- Meanwhile, Helena Peace Seekers plan to lead a "demonstration of sorts" outside the hotel. Peace Seeker Jim Barngrover said there are many interested groups, but also "political sensitivity" because of the ongoing Legislative session. He criticized the event's handpicked audience.

"It's interesting they're (the White House) spending so much political capital here," Barngrover said. "This 'red state' might not be red enough."

Lewis and Clark County Democratic Party Vice Chairman Paul Edwards said the party won't organize a rally.

Reporter Jason Mohr can be reached at 447-4075 or jason.mohr@helenair.com.