Iowa Dems: No coronation for Branstad

The Iowa Democratic Party says Terry Branstad isn't inspiring confidence among prominent GOP elected officials in Iowa.

Rep. Steve King declined an opportunity to endorse him on Iowa Press Tuesday, saying that he will “let them fight it out.”

King's neutrality declaration comes after Sen. Chuck Grassley mused that he did not know whether Branstad would win the Republican nomination for governor. Grassley said, “He's going to have a primary. I'm not sure if he wins or not.”

“Republicans haven't forgotten that Branstad raised the sales tax, increased the gas tax and kept two sets of budget books to hide his accounting failures,” said Iowa Democratic Party Executive Director Norm Sterzenbach. “He's been on a two-month tour rejecting key policies of his gubernatorial tenure, but Grassley and King remember the true Terry Branstad and don't like his record.”

“Terry Branstad expected a coronation when he resigned from Des Moines University to run for governor, but he clearly miscalculated,” Sterzenbach said.