ChetChase 2010 -- One Week to Go

Iowa's race for governor, windblown.

VAUDIT LANDS ON CULVER CAMPAIGN, ONE CANDIDATE HURT -- With just a wafer-thin week left in the campaign for governor, State Auditor David Vaudt turned in his homework on the film credit fiasco.

Vaudt found that $26 million in film production tax credits issued by the Iowa Film Office were improper. The office issued a total of $32 million in credits, so the agency's batting average on proper-ness could have been a smidgen higher.

From Radio Iowa:

Vaudt says the director of the film office at the time did not verify that the requests from the film companies. Vaudt says the department didn't go through any procedures to verify the validity of the expenditures made by the companies, so things that should not have been part of the tax credits were included. Vaudt says it was a long process as there were 14 different projects that had to be reviewed.“We went through boxes, and boxes and boxes of financial records in order to do this, as there were 22 films and over 64-million dollars worth of costs that were submitted,” Vaudt says. Governor Chet Culver, a Democrat, shut down the film program in September of 2009 after reports surfaced that the tax credits had been used improperly. Vaudt, a Republican, was asked about the timing of the release of the report the week before the election.

“We went through boxes, and boxes and boxes of financial records in order to do this, as there were 22 films and over 64-million dollars worth of costs that were submitted,” Vaudt says. Governor Chet Culver, a Democrat, shut down the film program in September of 2009 after reports surfaced that the tax credits had been used improperly. Vaudt, a Republican, was asked about the timing of the release of the report the week before the election.

His answer was that it was Culver who asked for the audit. And with all the traveling Chet's doing, trying desperately to win an uphill fight for re-election, Vaudt figured the govermor could use something to read in the car. I'm just speculating, but how thoughtful is that?

Culver's campaign contends that the Vaudit shows the governor was right to quickly stop the program and ask for several resignations in the Department of Economic Development which "administered" the program. There was a problem and Culver fixed it.

Republican Terry Branstad's campaign manager, Jeff Boeyink has a different take:

“This unfortunately is what we have come to expect from the Culver Administration. The failure to provide adequate oversight to this program is costing Iowa taxpayers tens of millions of dollars. Chet Culver's four year history of mismanagement of Iowa government has put Iowa on the wrong path, and with a state budget that is unsustainable. Terry Branstad is the proven leader and effective manager we need to put the state on a new path for honest, open and stable government.”

The Gazette  has coverage, as does the Register.  The Register has also posted a copy of the very hefty audit report.

So how bad is this news for Culver?

The timing is not great, given that, among his administration's oversight lapses, the film credit fiasco, with its missing receipts and luxury cars, is the crown jewel. People have heard of it. If fits the definition of needless government waste.  So any more attention on the film credit's problems and tens of millions of dollars in apparently misspent state bucks cannot be good for your re-election hopes.  It's front-page, top-of-the-newscast news everywhere.

Is the timing questionable? Sure, given that Vaudt has taken a central, high-profile role in campaigning for Branstad. The downside of getting involved in politics is that it's just so darn political. People sometimes question your motives. Even if you're just a mild-mannered CPA.

Still, politics or not, the very best way to avoid this sort of thing is to not run a multi-million-dollar government enterprise like the movie theater snack bar. Don't give away the Raisinettes.

Culver didn't run the office, but the problem happned on his watch, so he's stuck with it. We'll find out Tuesday how much this sort of stuff hurts him.

SIX POINTS OF SEPARATION -- The Culver campaign is touting a campaign-funded poll showing Culver within 6 percentage points of Branstad.

The Global Strategies Group survey shows Branstad leading 46-40, with 26 percent of voters either undecided or open to changing their pick. The poll was conducted Oct. 22-25.

Internal campaign polls are always suspect, although it's a given that Branstad was bound to lose some of the 19-point lead he had in the last Iowa Poll in September.

Just in case, ChetChase has purchases state-o-the-art equipment to decide a photo finish.

LOVE THE ONE YOUR MITT -- Branstad stopped in Cedar Rapids this morning with former Massachusetts governor and past/future presidential hopeful Mitt Romney.

I could not attend, due to my daughter's ill-timed orthodontist appointment. But, frankly, who appreciates straight, beautiful teeth more than Mitt? No one.  Quite a smile with that guy. Blinding.

Anyway, it doesn't sound like I missed too much. The Register's Kathie Obradovich braved the wind to attend. She was "underwhelmed":

Romney's speech was heavy on material we've heard before - joking about being mistaken in the airport for John Kerry. Hi-larious. He said nothing about the 2012 cycle, which wasn't really a surprise. He gave a few pat remarks about how liberals are trying to kill the spirit of America.

Kerry. Classic. O. Kay Henderson also has coverage of Romney's remarks:

“We've watched what happened when they built their stimulus which didn't create private sector jobs. It instead protected government workers and unions. It did not do what the economy needed, which was to stimulate investment and hiring in the private sector where jobs will stay and grow. And then we saw ObamaCare, We saw their cap and trade efforts and their card-check efforts, and so people have said,'Look, that liberal agenda doesn't work.'”

Actually, he saw "ObamaCare" much sooner than anyone. Like when he was signing into law in Masachusetts. Those were the days...that he will never speak of again, voluntarily.

Branstad, on the other hand, struck a musical note:

“The reason we're singing to the choir, why we're speaking to the choir, is because they've got to sing to their friends, neighbors and relatives and get them out to vote,” Branstad said.

The choir then broke into "Sitting on a Lead," to the tune of "Bringing in the Sheaves." Stirring.

THE SHAPE OF THE GAME -- Here are your official voter registration numbers, courtesy of the secretary of state:

· Democrat: 701,163

· Republican: 647,201

· No Party: 764,756

· Other: 1,913

But 237,000+

have already voted.