A Hotly Contested Primary Could Benefit Iowa Republicans

Thursday, July 30, 2009, 4:06
Iowa, News Center, Top Story
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18 comments

branstadduffy There is still a lot of political chatter out there following TheIowaRepublican.com gubernatorial poll. This is especially true in regard to how former Governor Terry Branstad did in a head-to-head match-up against current Iowa Governor Chet Culver. Branstad crushed Culver by 16 points.

Since the polling results were announced, Iowa Republicans have been contemplating two questions. The first question – is will Branstad actually run? Only Branstad can answer that question. Thus far, the former governor has side-stepped the question by saying that he is focused on Des Moines University, but then he says he would never rule anything out. Until Branstad gives a solid yes or no answer, the chatter about a potential reemergence into politics will remain.

The second question is – should Branstad run for governor? This is where radio talk show hosts, bloggers, and columnists are having a field day. If you talk to ten Republican activists, you are likely to get ten different answers. Their responses range from “yes he should definitely because he would win,” to “he should stay out because a Branstad comeback might spark political Armageddon within the Republican Party.”

I’ll be very clear where I come down on this question. I have no problem with Governor Branstad if he should mount a comeback and seek the Republican nomination for Governor. There’s a lot he could bring to the race. That statement is by no means a slight to the current candidates in the race. In fact, I might be one of the few Iowa Republicans who thinks the current slate of candidates is strong and diverse. However, if former Governor Branstad does run for governor, he should do so because there are issues that he cares deeply about, not because he beats Culver in a head-to-head poll.

I have always been a proponent of primaries. I think primaries are a healthy exercise that political parties can use to grow registration numbers and find new volunteers and activists. Yet, somehow the word “primary” has become a bad word for Republicans. That might be why we haven’t had many contested primaries since 2002. That is the year in which Republicans had a number of hotly contested primaries for US Senate, 5th District Congress, and governor.

There has also been increased chatter about Congressman Steve King running for the Republican nomination. Again, as Republicans, we should welcome all candidates into this race because it will make our party stronger in the long run.

It is inconceivable that any one candidate exists who possesses all of the great ideas and proposals that our state needs to become admired again. A respectful but vigorous gubernatorial primary would act as a brainstorming session. Think about the number of ideas that could be produced in a primary environment like that. Republicans already have candidates with ideas about how to rein in the runaway court system and reform Iowa’s property tax system, but we need more. We need ideas about health care, agriculture, business climate, education, and the list could go on and on.

However, political campaigns have a tendency to get a little too personal. If you are a supporter of one particular campaign, you don’t think it’s necessary for new candidates to emerge. That’s simple human nature, but we need to have a diverse group of candidates so that we are exploring as many issues as possible.

I think there is room for both Congressman King and former Governor Terry Branstad in this race. King brings a tremendous amount of energy and passion to everything he does. He is also a principled conservative who’s not afraid to try new things. King, a big proponent of the Fair Tax, might want to just eliminate all income tax altogether. It is discussions like this which will enable our party to move forward. The same is true for Governor Branstad. There would not be a better candidate out there to advance conservative solutions to our state’s health care issues.

The Republican Party has long been the party of ideas. Unfortunately, we have surrendered the war on issues and instead have only looked to promote candidates who we think can win the general election. We should embrace the upcoming primary no matter who the candidates are, and we should encourage them to make it about the important issues of the day.

Tags: Branstad, Campaign 2010, Duffy

About the Author

Craig Robinson has written 700 stories on this site.

Craig Robinson serves as the founder and Editor-in-Chief of TheIowaRepublican.com. Prior to founding Iowa's largest conservative news site, Robinson served as the Political Director of the Republican Party of Iowa during the 2008 Iowa Caucuses. In that capacity, Robinson planned and organized the largest political event in 2007, the Iowa Straw Poll, in Ames, Iowa. Robinson also organized the 2008 Republican caucuses in Iowa, and was later dispatched to Nevada to help with the caucuses there. Robinson cut his teeth in Iowa politics during the 2000 caucus campaign of businessman Steve Forbes and has been involved with most major campaigns in the state since then. His extensive political background and rolodex give him a unique perspective from which to monitor the political pulse of Iowa.

18 Comments on “A Hotly Contested Primary Could Benefit Iowa Republicans”

Christian Ilene Onum wrote on 30 July, 2009, 5:23
Good point. I do think that we have a few candidates talking about education (Bob Vander Plaats and Paul McKinley), but I think Brandstad could bring about a great view on healthcare. Either way, the pro-life and pro-family folks need to know where you are on marriage and abortion before they want to hear where you are on healthcare, tax reform, etc. Why can’t we have a candidate that is a proponent for all of these things?
Timmy wrote on 30 July, 2009, 6:44
Craig, I hafta disagree a bit with the “jump in, the water’s fine” approach to the campaign. There isn’t enough oxygen in the room to support a whole slew of candidates and in my opinion it fractions out too much among the weaker candidates the opposition to a stronger candidate that might be less than palatable to a majority. We have a number of great men that have stuck their toe in, but in reality we all would be better served if they stayed where they are.
As for Congressman King, as much as I like him I don’t think he has enough statewide appeal at this time. OTOH, former Gov. Branstad would be likely the guy to beat of he chooses to run and I think could heal the state and return us to the road of responsible government.
SharpHawkeye wrote on 30 July, 2009, 14:23
That Duffy cartoon sums up the game Branstad is playing right now PERFECTLY. His wit and focus has gotten so much stronger ever since the Register cut him loose.
red247 wrote on 30 July, 2009, 15:23
We should be the party of ideas. We should NOT be the party that excludes people because their top ideas are not opposing gay marriage and anti-abortion.

The Deace method of attacking Doug Gross & blaming him for the deaths of hundreds of thousands of babies is beyond despicable. It’s also wrong.

Then we had freaking Kim Lehman attacking Marianette Miller Meeks weeks before the Congressional elections where she was trying to unseat an ultra-liberal.

These tools are not accomplishing anything positive with their douchebaggery.

Haley Barbour gave a great speech about even supporting pro-choice Republicans when he was in Des Moines a few weeks ago. The Democrats took the majorities because they ran conservative “blue dog” Democrats.

There needs to be a place in the Republican party for moderates.
Moderation in Everything wrote on 30 July, 2009, 15:26
Hey red. You’ll find out soon that there is no room in the inn for moderates on this site. Still keep up the good work however. The wingnuts need to be reminded they are not the center of the universe.
red247 wrote on 30 July, 2009, 15:47
What’s really laughable is most of these people absolutely support the Huckster, who is “conservative” on only TWO ISSUES (marriage, abortion).

He was a freaking moderate-liberal on things like taxes, immigration, etc. And completely disingenuous about it.

They complain about Romney flipping, but ignore the Huckster.

They’re going to give us One Issue Bob Vanderplods as our candidate, and we’ll lose.
Peggy wrote on 30 July, 2009, 16:10
“There needs to be a place in the Republican party for moderates.” –red247

“Hey red. You’ll find out soon that there is no room in the inn for moderates on this site. Still keep up the good work however. The wingnuts need to be reminded they are not the center of the universe.” –MIE

I’ve got a newsflash for you guys: there is room for people such as yourself in the Republican Party but you’re probably greatly outnumbered at this time so that’s something you’re going to have to deal with on a personal level.

It’s strange that you both act as though YOU are being kept from the inner circle but you’re the ones using unflattering terms to refer to people who are more conservative than you (douchebaggery, wingnuts, One Issue Vanderplods).

BTW, what was BVP’s ‘one issue’ the last two times he ran for Guv?
Moderation in Everything wrote on 30 July, 2009, 16:20
Peggy: I can tell you I won’t lose a wink of sleep if I’m not invited to the fringe’s inner circle sleepover (no doubt held at the Westboro Baptist Church). In due time you’ll get your come uppance when either 1) the fringe blows the ever growing chance to win an election or 2) the moderates dump the Party in even bigger droves which in turn leaves the Party as impotent as ever. Then the Party will gravitate to the middle like the dems eventually did after 1980.
Timmy wrote on 30 July, 2009, 16:23
Mod, red: Ya know, I used to think I was conservative ’til I started hanigin’ out here!
Moderation in Everything wrote on 30 July, 2009, 16:32
Timmy: Depends how you define consevatism. The conservatism portrayed here has nothing to do with classical conservatism. It’s all about those who desire to witness their faith through the political process. History is replete with examples of the calamity that would befall us all if these people would have their way politically. I wish a few of them would take the time and brush up on the religous wars of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. Having done so many would mute their braying.
red247 wrote on 30 July, 2009, 17:41
Peggy, for the record, I consider myself a conservative on practically every issue, including the social ones. But those aren’t the only issues that are important to me, unlike Deace, Vander Plods, etc.

You CANNOT win a statewide election if all you talk about is gay marriage and abortion. Especially when you’re as boring and charisma-deprived as One Issue Bob.

“BTW, what was BVP’s ‘one issue’ the last two times he ran for Guv?”

Umm….not putting people to sleep during his speeches???
Peggy wrote on 30 July, 2009, 17:54
How old are you, Red? Eight?

So we have the likes of you and MIE ragging on the conservatives who dare to bring up the issues of abortion and same sex marriage (you might be more convincing if you didn’t use the militant gay lobby’s lingo for everything!) and then you equate us with Westboro Baptists Church???

The only people being intolerant and closed-minded on this website are, so far, you and MIE. You’re both apparently unable to disagree with someone without resorting to childish antics and name-calling. Why in the hell would we want to follow your lead, politically or otherwise?
red247 wrote on 30 July, 2009, 19:13
What in the blue hell are you talking about? Who equated anybody with the nutjobs from Westboro Baptist Church?

Sounds to me like you’re deflecting.

Did you even read my post? I said I’m conservative on the social issues as well…but THEY’RE NOT THE ONLY ISSUES.

Peggy, is it ok with you that Kim Lehman, a National RNC Committeewoman, tried to destroy Meeks campaign by saying she’s not pro-life???? Is this the Republican party you want?

Do you want people like Bob Vander Plaats and MIke Huckabee and Steve Deace, who attack CONSERVATIVES like Fred Thompson and Doug Gross…blaming them for the deaths of hundreds of thousands of babies?

That’s what these people have done. It’s beyond the pale.
Moderation in Everything wrote on 31 July, 2009, 5:44
Peggy: What thin skin for an old war horse like you. Chill, girl. Seems like you can dish it out but can’t take it. Haven’t you noticed? Politics is a full contact sport. By the way, Peggy, you are NOT a conservative. At least in the classical sense. You want the government in everybody’s business. Stay out of mine.
Christian Ilene Onum wrote on 31 July, 2009, 5:49
Why can’t we have a candidate that is a proponent for all of these things?
Moderation in Everything wrote on 31 July, 2009, 5:57
Christian: I agree. The problem is emphasis. If you and I sat down for tea, I bet we would find ourselves agreeing on 99% of the issues. What we disagree on is how to grow the Party. To grow a Party we need to be tolerant (Peggy–is the word “tolerant” gay lobby lingo?). That means muting hot botton issues that are divisive and are not amenable to compromise. I was pleased a punch to read Pawlenty’s comments regarding these issues. He said the Party needs to reach out to diaffected Dems and the middle. I could not agree more.
Moderation in Everything wrote on 31 July, 2009, 6:12
Peggy: One more thing. You ask who in “hell” would want to follow our (moderates) lead? Answer: Those that want to win.
red247 wrote on 31 July, 2009, 11:30
Christian, we can have a candidate who is a proponent of all these things. And I believe some of our gubernatorial candidates fit the bill.

However, the KEY issue right now, is the economy. I have no interest in a candidate that doesn’t have a sound plan to create jobs and return the Iowa economy to prosperity. Neither will most Iowans.

One Issue Bob ain’t gonna cut it.