Branstad sees 'wide open' race for 2010 GOP nomination

CEDAR RAPIDS - Former Gov. Terry Branstad sees a "wide open" race for the Republican nomination for governor and predicted Republicans could regain control of the governor's office.

"First of all, I think we have a real chance to win the governor's race," Branstad said before speaking to a Cedar Rapids Rotary Club Wednesday. "If we choose the right candidate who can unite the party and attract enough independents and Democrats, it can be done."

First-term Democrat Gov. Chet Culver is vulnerable because of his borrowing and spending, according to Branstad, who 11 years after leaving office is an elder statesman of the Republican Party of Iowa. Culver is in a "state of denial" about Iowa's fiscal problems, he said.

Although businessman Bob Vander Plaats and former House Speaker Christopher Rants, both of Sioux City, may be the frontrunners now, Branstad predicted others will get into the race that will be decided by the June 2010 primary election.

"Vander Plaats has been around a couple of times, so people have their minds made up about him," he said. "Rants was speaker, but then Republicans lost the House, so I think there will be several others. It's very much an open situation."

The party faces challenges, Branstad said, but he senses a new enthusiasm. Some of the credit goes to Chairman Matt Strawn, he said, but it also comes from new GOP members in the Iowa Legislature and Minority Leaders Rep. Kraig Paulsen of Hiawatha and Sen. Paul McKinley of Chariton.

"I see a revitalization of the party and the leadership occurring," he said. "They have a real can-do attitude."

 Although outnumbered 32-18 in the Senate and 56-44 in the House, Republicans prevented passage of Democratic "job-killer" bills like prevailing wage, Branstad said.

The party's nominee will set a tone and direction for the Iowa GOP, which has moved to the right in recent years, Branstad said. Republicans not aligned with the Christian Right are seeking to find a candidate in tune with the traditional Republican small government, lower taxes philosophy.

"It will be important to choose the right person ... someone with vision and a plan to restore fiscal responsibility," Branstad said.

Branstad made clear he hasn't endorsed any candidate and laughed when asked if he would be drafted as the party's nominee.

"Someone taught me a long time ago you don't rule anything out, but I love what I'm doing"  Branstad said. "I have people ask me about that every day, but that's not my focus. My focus is Des Moines University and what I can do there."