Branstad: Never say never to another campaign

IOWA CITY - Leading the cheers for the Republican 'team” of candidates in recent days, Gov. Terry Branstad didn't seem like a guy on the campaign trail for the last time.

When he announced he was running for an unprecedented sixth term as governor, which would make him the longest-serving governor in American history, Branstad said he wouldn't run for governor again.

That doesn't mean Iowans will never see his name on a ballot again, he said Monday.

'Never say never,” Branstad said when asked about Monday being on the campaign trail for the last time in a 41-year political career.

'I've learned from past experience it's best not to say this is the last,” he added Tuesday. 'My goal is to win and secondly to accomplish as much as I can while I serve.”

With his re-election not in doubt, Branstad concentrated on electing the whole slate of GOP candidates 'and then look forward to what we can accomplish.”

'There's a lot more we want to do,” he said

That's essentially what Branstad has been saying since first elected to the Iowa House in 1973. He served three terms there before serving from 1979-83 as lieutenant governor to GOP Gov. Bob Ray.

He was first elected governor in 1982 and served four terms before leaving Terrace Hill. After a 12-year hiatus, Branstad returned to the governor's office when he defeated Democratic Gov. Chet Culver in 2010.

Branstad isn't planning another campaign, but said he doesn't want to box himself in.

'I'm not going to say that,” when asked point blank if this was his last campaign. 'I said that one time before and it turned out not to be the case. I was recruited to come back, so I'm going to be careful about what I say about that.”

Chris Branstad seemed to see more finality on the end of the current campaign. After voting Tuesday, the Iowa first lady said she'll feel like she's getting her husband back after his many hours on the campaign trail in recent months.

'We'll have to get reacquainted here,” she said. The Branstads plan to leave Friday for an 11-day vacation that will take them to Italy. 'I'm really looking forward to that.”

As far as making history as the nation's longest-serving governor, Branstad said: 'You take it a day at a time. I feel very humbled and honored that the people of Iowa have chosen to give me that opportunity. That means that I have a big responsibility to accomplish as much as I can to grow this state's economy and to make Iowa the best that it can be and hopefully the envy of the nation.”

The governor wouldn't speculate on what would make him seek office again or what office he might seek. However, he indicated he doesn't want to blemish his 13-0 record in contested elections and a 19-0 overall record.

'Let's put it this way, I'm undefeated and I want to keep it that way,” he said.