Branstad's lead narrows as both camps make final push

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Gov. Chet Culver and former Gov. Terry Branstad did battle in vote-rich Eastern Iowa Oct. 28, searching for votes and rallying their supporters to keep up the good fight for five more days.

Gov. Chet Culver and former Gov. Terry Branstad did battle in vote-rich Eastern Iowa Oct. 28, searching for votes and rallying their supporters to keep up the good fight for five more days.

“We have the momentum and five more days,” Culver, a first-term West Des Moines Democrat, told supporters at the University of Iowa.

His running mate, Lt. Gov. Patty Judge, said Culver is closing in on Branstad with “some polls” showing the incumbent to be within the margin of error.

“But that's not good enough,” she said. “We've got to keep pushing."

Branstad, who's seeking an unprecedented fifth four-year term, had the same message for his supporters at the Johnson County Republican headquarters in Coralville.

He dismissed Culver's claim that the tide has turned in the $16 million race.

“We've been ahead in every poll,” Branstad said, and with the turnout we've had it shows me that here in Eastern Iowa, which has gone Democrat in recent years, we're going to do very well.”

Later, Branstad said he doesn't make the campaign's polling public, “but we're going very well.

Culver and other Democratic candidates touring with him made it clear they're counting on Johnson County to ensure their victories.

U.S. Rep. Dave Loebsack said he wouldn't have eked out a win over 15-term Republican Rep. Jim Leach in 2006 without Johnson County. In an indication of how the environment for Democrats has changed, Loebsack, who scored an 18-point victory two years ago, said he won't win this year “unless Johnson County does it again.”

“Johnson County is our gold mine,” added Sen. Tom Harkin, who said that although he's not on the ballot “I'm in the harness.”

The candidates reported other gold mines, too. The Branstad campaign announced it has raised more than $8.1 million, including $533,000 in 12 days in October.

“Branstad is by every measure the people's candidate,” Boeyink said.  Culver “has been forced to rely on huge contributions from special interest PACs and out-of-state individuals.”

He said more than 13,000 individual contributors have donated to Branstad's campaign while Culver has fewer than 4,000 individual contributors.

But Culver will win, his campaign manager, Donn Stanley said, “because he has raised more than $8 million, he's been endorsed by more than a dozen statewide organizations representing hundreds of thousands of teachers, firefighters, corn growers, NRA members and hardworking families.”

Additionally, Culver has promised a $120 million income tax cut 980,000 Iowans – single filers earning less than $100,000 a year and joint filers earning less than $200,000.

“That's why we're going to win because the overwhelming majority of Iowans believe we're going to get up every day and fight for those working families, for hardworking men and women across the state,” Culver said.

Branstad believes the overwhelming majority of Iowans are ready for change. They realize the state is going in the wrong direction, that they can't afford the debt and burden being placed on them, he added.

“We have an opportunity to begin changing course here in Iowa,” Branstad said. Iowans are looking for leaders to “restore honest, open, clean government with the focus on jobs and quality education.”

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Gov. Chet Culver and former Gov. Terry Branstad did battle in vote-rich Eastern Iowa Oct. 28, searching for votes and rallying their supporters to keep up the good fight for five more days.“We have the momentum and five more days,” Culver, a first-term West Des Moines Democrat, told supporters at the University of Iowa.His running mate, Lt. Gov. Patty Judge, said Culver is closing in on Branstad with “some polls” showing the incumbent to be within the margin of error.“But that's not good enough,” she said. “We've got to keep pushing.Branstad, who's seeking an unprecedented fifth four-year term, had the same message for his supporters at the Johnson County Republican headquarters in Coralville.He dismissed Culver's claim that the tide has turned in the $16 million race.“We've been ahead in every poll,” Branstad said, and with the turnout we've had it shows me that here in Eastern Iowa, which has gone Democrat in recent years, we're going to do very well.”Later, Branstad said he doesn't make the campaign's polling public, “but we're going very well.Culver and other Democratic candidates touring with him made it clear they're counting on Johnson County to ensure their victories.U.S. Rep. Dave Loebsack said he wouldn't have eked out a win over 15-term Republican Rep. Jim Leach in 2006 without Johnson County. In an indication of how the environment for Democrats has changed, Loebsack, who scored an 18-point victory two years ago, said he won't win this year “unless Johnson County does it again.”“Johnson County is our gold mine,” added Sen. Tom Harkin, who said that although he's not on the ballot “I'm in the harness.”The candidates reported other gold mines, too. The Branstad campaign announced it has raised more than $8.1 million, including $533,000 in 12 days in October.“Branstad is by every measure the people's candidate,” Boeyink said.  Culver “has been forced to rely on huge contributions from special interest PACs and out-of-state individuals.”He said more than 13,000 individual contributors have donated to Branstad's campaign while Culver has fewer than 4,000 individual contributors.But Culver will win, his campaign manager, Donn Stanley said, “because he has raised more than $8 million, he's been endorsed by more than a dozen statewide organizations representing hundreds of thousands of teachers, firefighters, corn growers, NRA members and hardworking families.”Additionally, Culver has promised a $120 million income tax cut 980,000 Iowans – single filers earning less than $100,000 a year and joint filers earning less than $200,000.“That's why we're going to win because the overwhelming majority of Iowans believe we're going to get up every day and fight for those working families, for hardworking men and women across the state,” Culver said.Branstad believes the overwhelming majority of Iowans are ready for change. They realize the state is going in the wrong direction, that they can't afford the debt and burden being placed on them, he added.“We have an opportunity to begin changing course here in Iowa,” Branstad said. Iowans are looking for leaders to “restore honest, open, clean government with the focus on jobs and quality education.”

Gov. Chet Culver and former Gov. Terry Branstad did battle in vote-rich Eastern Iowa Oct. 28, searching for votes and rallying their supporters to keep up the good fight for five more days.

“We have the momentum and five more days,” Culver, a first-term West Des Moines Democrat, told supporters at the University of Iowa.

His running mate, Lt. Gov. Patty Judge, said Culver is closing in on Branstad with “some polls” showing the incumbent to be within the margin of error.

“But that's not good enough,” she said. “We've got to keep pushing.

Branstad, who's seeking an unprecedented fifth four-year term, had the same message for his supporters at the Johnson County Republican headquarters in Coralville.

He dismissed Culver's claim that the tide has turned in the $16 million race.

“We've been ahead in every poll,” Branstad said, and with the turnout we've had it shows me that here in Eastern Iowa, which has gone Democrat in recent years, we're going to do very well.”

Later, Branstad said he doesn't make the campaign's polling public, “but we're going very well.

Culver and other Democratic candidates touring with him made it clear they're counting on Johnson County to ensure their victories.

U.S. Rep. Dave Loebsack said he wouldn't have eked out a win over 15-term Republican Rep. Jim Leach in 2006 without Johnson County. In an indication of how the environment for Democrats has changed, Loebsack, who scored an 18-point victory two years ago, said he won't win this year “unless Johnson County does it again.”

“Johnson County is our gold mine,” added Sen. Tom Harkin, who said that although he's not on the ballot “I'm in the harness.”

The candidates reported other gold mines, too. The Branstad campaign announced it has raised more than $8.1 million, including $533,000 in 12 days in October.

“Branstad is by every measure the people's candidate,” Boeyink said.  Culver “has been forced to rely on huge contributions from special interest PACs and out-of-state individuals.”

He said more than 13,000 individual contributors have donated to Branstad's campaign while Culver has fewer than 4,000 individual contributors.

But Culver will win, his campaign manager, Donn Stanley said, “because he has raised more than $8 million, he's been endorsed by more than a dozen statewide organizations representing hundreds of thousands of teachers, firefighters, corn growers, NRA members and hardworking families.”

Additionally, Culver has promised a $120 million income tax cut 980,000 Iowans – single filers earning less than $100,000 a year and joint filers earning less than $200,000.

“That's why we're going to win because the overwhelming majority of Iowans believe we're going to get up every day and fight for those working families, for hardworking men and women across the state,” Culver said.

Branstad believes the overwhelming majority of Iowans are ready for change. They realize the state is going in the wrong direction, that they can't afford the debt and burden being placed on them, he added.

“We have an opportunity to begin changing course here in Iowa,” Branstad said. Iowans are looking for leaders to “restore honest, open, clean government with the focus on jobs and quality education.”