Speculation grows on Branstad as China ambassador

By Erin Murphy, Gazette-Lee Des Moines Bureau

DES MOINES - Gov. Terry Branstad confirmed he will meet this week with President-elect Donald Trump amid growing speculation Trump will ask him to serve as the U.S. ambassador to China.

Since Trump's Nov. 8 election victory, political observers and reporters have speculated Trump may offer the post to Branstad, who was a strong supporter of Trump during the general election and has a longtime working friendship with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

This past weekend, a Bloomberg Politics report said Branstad is the front-runner for the post.

Branstad will be in New York from Tuesday through Thursday on a previously scheduled economic development trip. He confirmed Monday, during his weekly news conference, that at some point during the trip he'll meet with Trump.

As he has in recent weeks, Branstad demurred when asked whether he would accept the post if offered.

'It hasn't been offered, and I love my job as governor,” Branstad said. 'This is my focus. It's my intent to continue to focus on this.”

Branstad met recently with Vice President-elect Mike Pence in Washington, D.C., during a trip that also included visits with Iowa's congressional delegation and top national Republicans.

Branstad said he discussed with Pence a desire for fewer federal regulations on business. The governor said he expects to deliver a similar message to Trump.

'We'll talk about that and other subjects as well,” Branstad said.

Trump plans to be in Des Moines for a rally Thursday as part of his victory tour. Branstad said he plans to be back in time for the event.

Should Trump offer the ambassadorship and should Branstad accept, Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds would be promoted to governor. She would become Iowa's first female governor.

Branstad has touted Reynolds as a possible successor and says he keeps her involved in critical aspects of the administration. He said Monday he has not discussed with Reynolds the possibility of him resigning and her assuming the governorship, but he lauded her preparedness.

Jeff Kaufmann, chairman of the state Republican Party, expressed confidence in Reynolds should she be promoted to governor.

'I've been following Iowa politics a long time, and I have never seen a partnership where she has been included in so many aspects of the job, from the policy of the job to the campaigning to the moments when Iowans need to be encouraged,” Kaufmann said. 'I think Kim Reynolds is as ready as any lieutenant governor we've ever had.”

Should Reynolds be promoted, she would be free to appoint a new lieutenant governor, according to Iowa law and confirmed by the state Secretary of State's office. Reynolds and her lieutenant governor would serve the remainder of the term, which expires at the end of 2018.

Should that happen, possible lieutenant governor picks for Reynolds could come from state department heads, including Debi Durham in economic development, who was a running mate to Republican gubernatorial candidate Doug Gross in 2002, or Bill Northey in agriculture. Reynolds also could pick from the Legislature, where she served as a senator in 2009 and 2010.