ChetChase 2010 - Culver Strikes Back

Ignoring the pundits who say they distinctly smell toasted Democrat whenever they see his poll numbers, Gov. Chet Culver is running for re-election anyway.

We totally knew he would.

It all starts next Monday (May 17), when he formally kicks off at Hoover High School in Des Moines, where he taught and coached and announced his successful run in 2006. Culver adopted Hoover's gold and green as his campaign colors.

Culver loves everything about Hoover, except that the school's namesake was a one-termer drummed out during tough economic times. Step away from the history book. Have you seen our AAA bond rating?

Over five days, Culver will hit 20 cities. Lt. Gov. Patty Judge will make 23 stops, including four with Culver, and First Lady Mari Culver will make 8, including two solo stops.

The governor gets most of the biggish stages - Des Moines, Ames, Marshalltown, Waterloo, Iowa City, Davenport, Dubuque, Sioux City, Mason City, Council Bluffs and Burlington, along with some stops in smaller towns. On Friday, May 21, he stops in Oakville, a town nearly wiped off the map by the 2008 flood.

I think it's interesting that Judge will be the one campaigning in Fort Dodge a week from Thursday, one week after the Racing and Gaming Commission likely says no dice to the city's embattled casino application A special prosecutor is investigating contributions to Culver from backers of the FD casino bid. Not exactly the best place for a gubernatorial photo op.

Among Culver's stops are Main Street in Ames, The Rose Bowl in Mason City, two union halls, the UAW in Waterloo and UFCW in Ottumwa, one American Legion, three parks, two libraries, and the Corner Tap in West Point.

Judge, not surprisingly, spends significant time in her southern Iowa stomping grounds, including a Friday, May 21,  stop at the White Buffalo restaurant  in Albia, her hometown.

There are no Pizza Ranches on the schedule. So there probably won't be an accidental meeting between CJC and BVP.

The complete schedule can be found here.