Branstad predicts victory, but not taking primary win for granted

MARION – Former Gov. Terry Branstad is looking forward to a victory celebration Tuesday night, but doesn't plan to take a break from his campaign for a fifth term as the state's chief executive.

Although polls show the four-term Republican ahead of GOP rivals Rep. Rod Roberts and Bob Vander Plaats in the June 8 primary and Democratic Gov. Chet Culver in the Nov. 2 general election, Branstad isn't taking anything for granted.

“I've been through 10 contested elections and I want to keep the record clear,” he said.

At his northeast Iowa campaign headquarters in Marion Monday, Branstad thanked volunteers who were busy working the phones to turn out voters in counties where Republican gubernatorial candidates have not fared well in recent elections.

“I'm excited about tomorrow,” Branstad told nearly four dozens volunteers. “We've all worked hard, but it's been a lot fun.”

Branstad rejected suggestions that the polls and his success in turning out absentee voters may make his supporters overconfident and the may not vote June 8.

“We are not overconfident and we'll never be,” Branstad said. “We'll never be outworked. That's why we are here today and why I'm going to Davenport and then to our headquarters in Des Moines. That's why we've got an army of people making phone calls.

“It makes a difference,” he said. “Even though it looks good from the absentee ballots, the people who show up on Election Day really count.”

Paul Pate, a former state senator, secretary of state and Cedar Rapids mayor, reminded the group of Branstad's record over 16 years in the governor's office.

“He was governor during some of the toughest economic times this state has ever seen,” Pate said. For most of those years, Branstad had to work with a Democratic-controlled Legislature. “That makes it hard to get things done your way.”

Branstad was able to work with Democrats “without sacrificing the needs of Iowans and compromising away the highest priorities we had,” Pate said.

He's proud of that record, Branstad said, but his focus is on the future. He called for lower commercial property taxes and lower corporate income taxes to make Iowa more attractive to business. That will help him achieve his goals of creating 200,000 new jobs and increasing household income by 25 percent.

“I want to lead a great economic recovery,” Branstad said. “I know this community has been hurt. I'm encouraged to see the spirit in this community and the effort being made. I'm looking forward to do what I can as governor to help bring the businesses, the jobs here.”

He also called for raising education expectation and renewing rewards for high-performing teachers and schools.

Reminded that the weather forecast calls for a 70 percent chance of rain and thunderstorms Tuesday, Branstad said that shouldn't keep Republicans away from the voting booth.

“Republicans are pretty hardy and we'll turn out in snowstorms and we'll turn out in rainstorms,” he said. “I'm not worried about that.”