ChetChase 2010 - The Week, The Poll

Iowa's race for governor, pummeled into submission.

1. Vander Walker Texas Ranger -- Chuck Norris is opening up a big can of  Texas fundraising tonight (Friday) on behalf of Republican candidate for governor Bob Vander Plaats.

Covering Iowa Politics has blow-by-blow detail:

More than three dozen Iowans are heading to Texas to rub elbows with action movie star Chuck Norris Friday evening

They'll also be contributing $5,000 per couple to Bob Vander Plaats' campaign for the Republican nomination for governor.

Norris, who has endorsed Vander Plaats, offered to host an event for the Sioux City businessman at his ranch at Navasota, Texas, about 30 miles south of College Station. Vander Plaats spokesman Eric Woolson said about 40 people are expected to attend.

For that kind of scratch, attendees should at least walk away with a brand new Total Gym.

Will the Norris endorsement help Vander Plaats deliver a right-wing roundhouse to the crowded GOP field? Who knows?

But odds are none of his rivals will have the support of someone who can fight off an attacking grizzly. And that could be pivotal. Yes it could.

2. Chet Shrinks -- Gov. Chet Culver's office says there's now less of him to love. And, apparently, Iowans love him less.

Culver lost 25 pounds training for a Florida triathlon he competed in last weekend. And he'll probably compete in more events. Good for him.

Also last weekend, the Des Moine Register released an Iowa Pollpegging his approval rating at a troubling 40 percent and showing him trailing Republicans Terry Branstad and Vander Plaats in hypothetical match ups. Branstad led Culver by 24 points. Not good for him.

Culver's problems are obvious enough - economic woes, big budget problems, missteps galore and public dissatisfaction with all things incumbent. I've also heard rumors that the governor doesn't always tackle tough issues head on, which makes voters think he's a big weather vane. Can't confirm.

But at least his staff is keeping its sense of humor. Ok, not really.

When pictures of Culver competing hard in his triathalon inevitably made their way around the Internets, including some of a shirtless chief executive, Culver's staff intervened.

Covering Iowa Politics was among several sites that posted pix of an uncovered governor. Culver spokesperson Troy Price sprang into action:

We saw you had up a blog yesterday with a photo of the Governor at the triathlon. The Governor finished the triathlon, and he did a pretty good job – especially on the swimming. So, I guess my question is - do you think the only news to come out of this is that the Governor didn't have a shirt on? And if so, why is that news?

The same question could be asked about gubernatorial weight loss and triathloning and 98.6 percent of everything on the Internet. And of course the long answer to Price's query is "Meh."

This would have been the perfect chance for the governor to crack wise with some self-depreciating humor. Think Tom Vilsack in a Winnie the Pooh suit.

But when you're in defensive mode on so many fronts, it's tough to get out.  Budgets, jobs, film tax fiascos, polls, shirts, skins etc. Frown. React. Repeat. Same snit, different day.

It wasn't all bad for Culver this week. Once piece of good news is the governor has ordered a review of state tax credits in the wake of the film-making tax credit debacle.

It's welcome and long-overdue. Good for him.

3. Terry's Gas Tax Dance is a Rants, Rants, Rants -- Some guys in Decorah told Republican candidate for governor Christopher Rants that Terry Branstad told them he'd raise the gas tax.

Rants then gave a speech to Republicans in Dubuque and told them the whole harrowing  tale:

"It was an uncomfortable meeting when you tell a lot of people in a room something that they don't want to hear. At the end of the meeting we were surrounded by these folks who want the gas tax raised. I told them, if they were looking for someone to raise the gas tax, I'm not their candidate. I also told them that you are not going to find a Republican candidate who will tell you what you want to hear. That same gentleman told me, ‘That's not true; Terry Branstad will raise the gas tax."

Democrats also really liked Rants' story. Go figure.

But Branstad told Radio Iowa's O. Kay Henderson that he's really not a big old gas-tax-raiser. Honest:

“I don't think we need a gas tax increase and I wouldn't support a gas tax increase,” Branstad said. “In fact, I think what we need to do with the Department of Transportation - what we need to do with all state and local government - (is) look at how can we eliminate some of the administrative costs and some of the inefficiencies so more of the user fees, which is the gas tax (and) your vehicle registration, that that goes for what it's supposed to go to: roads and bridges.”

Oh, see, it's all just a big misunderstanding.

What's easy to understand, though, is that regardless of which one of these political profiles in courage gets elected, our roads and bridges will continue to deteriorate. Culver has already ducked the issue. Shocker.

If you don't want to raise the gas tax, fine, but don't pretend that you can close a huge gap between needs and resources by finding "efficiencies." Instead, explain why you think avoiding a tax hike is more important than transportation infrastructure repairs and improvements. I have yet to hear that explanation from any candidate.

4. The Poll.

Several Republican candidates for governor are urging Iowans to vote "no" in 2010 on retaining Iowa Supreme Court justices because they ruled in favor of allowing same-sex marriages.

I'd argue that retention was never intended to toss out judges simply for issuing rulings we don't like. But clearly, you can vote however you want and for whatever reason.

So how will you vote on Chief Justice Marsha Ternus and justices Michael Streit and David Baker? Retain or throw 'em out?

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