DES MOINES - Iowa Gov. Chet Culver is trying to keep up with the cool kids - on Twitter.

The governor joined the social networking site with little fanfare, talking about it with reporters at a news conference Wednesday. Culver, who goes by @GovChetCulver on Twitter, joins the site that many Iowa elected officials, state agencies and even Republicans who are seeking to challenge him next year already use.

"We're going to start experimenting with that; it's going to be kind of fun," Culver said. "So I'm looking forward to using that new media option."

Culver, 43, called the site an exciting new technology and a new way to communicate with constituents. Recent posts included the state's partnership with Microsoft to provide computer training and links to news coverage of his events.

"We're trying to do a lot of things in terms of how we deliver information from the governor's office, so you'll be seeing Facebook and Twitter and other new media opportunities," Culver said.

Culver sidestepped a reporter's question on whether he had a ghostwriter posting his "tweets," and acknowledged he hasn't added any Twitter applications or "apps" to his Blackberry yet.

"I will give you a Twitter update maybe in the next week or so," Culver said.