Branstad will decide by October whether to run for governor again

By James Q. Lynch

The Gazette

IOWA CITY – Terry Branstad will decide this fall whether to challenge Gov. Chet Culver, according to Republicans at an Iowa City fundraiser where the four-term former governor spoke Wednesday.

Branstad, who served as governor from 1983-1999, has kept political observers guessing with recent comments indicating he's thinking about seeking the Republican nomination to face first-term Democrat Gov. Chet Culver in 2010.

When the question was put to him at a fundraiser for Rep. Jeff Kaufmann, R-Wilton, Branstad acknowledged he's thinking about it.

“I'll think about it and make a decision some time in the month of October,” he said, according to Emma Nemecek, a Mount Vernon Republican, who was among more than 60 people at the fundraiser in a private home.

The fundraiser was not open to the media, however, people in attendance said Branstad told them he's frequently asked if he's going to run and is being encouraged to get into the race.

The October timeline “makes perfect sense” to Tim Palmer, editor of the HawkeyeReview.com and chairman of the Linn County Republican Party.

With the start of a new school year, Branstad's job as president of Des Moines University requires his attention, according to Palmer, who was not at the Kaufmann fundraiser. It also takes time to put together a campaign platform and organization and raise the money needed for a primary election in June 2010.

“Branstad, of all people, has the luxury of waiting and perfectly understands the art of political timing,” Palmer said. “It would be a terrible mistake to announce too soon” – before he had completed all the behind-the-scenes work necessary for a statewide campaign.

A Johnson County GOP activist speaking on background described Branstad, Iowa's longest-serving governor, as “very well-versed” on current state issues “and at times sounded like a candidate.

He was critical of Culver and the Democratic-controlled Legislature for the financial situation they have created. Republicans contend there is a budget gap of nearly $1 billion because of higher spending at a time when state revenues have fallen.

Branstad reportedly drew parallels between today's situation and the rural crisis of the 1980s. His response was to cut government costs. There was no bonding to cover current spending, Branstad reportedly told his audience, a reference to Culver pushing the Legislature to approve more than $700 billion in bonding.

Branstad also talked about his job as president of Des Moines University, an osteopathic medical school. He's happy there, he said, and proud of its growth. The university will enroll more students in its medical school this year than the University of Iowa medical school, he said.

Branstad also spoke of unfinished business at DMU, suggesting there are things he would want to complete before he considered a move, according to another person at the event.

“I'm not sure we know any more than we did before tonight,” he said. Branstad “said he hasn't ruled out anything, but for the time being is just trying to raise money to get the conservative movement back on track again.”

Several Republicans already are running or exploring candidacies: Rep. Christopher Rants and businessman Bob Vander Plaats, both of Sioux City; Iowa Senate Minority Leader Paul McKinley of Chariton; businessman Christian Fong of Cedar Rapids; Rep. Rod Roberts of Carroll and Sen. Jerry Behn of Boone.

Candidates for the primary election must file their nomination papers by March.