Politico:
Add Iowa Gov. Chet Culver to the list of Democratic governors seeing their approval numbers in free-fall, with the economy continuing to struggle in states throughout the country.
Culver has seen his approval rating dip to a new low and he now trails two prospective Republican opponents, including his leading challenger by 24 points, according to a newly-released Iowa Poll commissioned by the Des Moines Register.
Iowa voters are clearly taking their economic anxieties out on the governor. A 57 percent majority of voters believe the state is headed in the wrong direction, while only 34 percent believe it’s headed on the right track.
Culver trails former Iowa governor Terry Branstad, 57 to 33 percent, an ominously low number for a sitting governor who’s not dealing with any personal scandals. He also trails conservative businessman Bob Vander Plaats by seven points, 45 to 38 percent.
Tags: Branstad, culver, governer
Former Gov. Terry Branstad filed papers today creating a campaign committee for governor, signaling the beginning of a potential comeback campaign for the Republican and reshaping the race for the 2010 primary election.
Branstad plans to open a candidate organization with the Iowa Ethics and Campaign Disclosure Board, longtime Branstad associate Richard Schwarm said Tuesday. Branstad will name as its head one of the state’s leading business executives, Schwarm added.
Other Republicans who have filed organizational committees to run for governor are state Sen. Jerry Behn of Boone, Cedar Rapids businessman Christian Fong, state Sen. Paul McKinley of Chariton, state Rep. Christopher Rants of Sioux City and state Rep. Rod Roberts of Carroll.Branstad has been president of Des Moines University since 2003. After dismissing talk in April of a comeback, he said in July he was considering it.
Full Story at the Des Moines Register
Tags: Branstad, governor
