Branstad Press Conference Videos

Friday, October 16, 2009, 22:43
Iowa, News Center, Top Story
797 views
14 comments

Former Governor Terry Branstad officially retired at the President of Des Moines University today. Below are videos from his press conference when he says that he retired so that he could devote 100% of his time exploring a run for governor.

Opening Remarks

Questions from the Media

Chris Branstad talks about the comeback.

Tags: Branstad, Campaign 2010

About the Author

Craig Robinson has written 506 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.

14 Comments on “Branstad Press Conference Videos”

LoboSolo wrote on 17 October, 2009, 4:51
this guy is the future of the republican party…. if it was 1982…. congratulations RPI
Timmy wrote on 17 October, 2009, 7:43
Lobo, What IOWA needs is somebody who can clean up the mess we are in first. A majority of Iowans have much more confidence in experienced leadership right now. If you really care about the future of the GOP, pay close attention to who ends up in the #2 spot because that probably will be who ends up running in 2014!
stenny1963 wrote on 17 October, 2009, 8:57
I agree with timmy.Branstad will be a shoe in if he just uses the whole “ive got nothing to lose or gain here I’m just here to clean up the house” approach to his campaign.I myself am leaning towards Rants but will support TB if he is the nominee.I too will be interested to see who he picks for the #2 post.That will show either where the party is going next or where Branstad/Gross would like it to go.
SharpHawkeye wrote on 17 October, 2009, 17:26
I agree. Branstad isn’t running to be the future of the party. He’s running to fix the present.
Peggy wrote on 17 October, 2009, 17:45
And if it’s all about the economy, Chris Rants is more conservative than TB.
Timmy wrote on 18 October, 2009, 5:56
I agree about Rants, however when it comes to winning the general, Branstad has a much better chance. I don’t think it will happen, but Branstad would be smart to pick Rants for the #2 slot.
SharpHawkeye wrote on 18 October, 2009, 11:44
My biggest concern about Rants is, does he have the personality to work with the other side. We’d have to have a landslide year to restore a majority in both houses–not that it couldn’t happen, it’s just a tall order.

If Rants came in with one or both of the Senate or House against him, could he work with the other side in order to get things done? I’m not certain that he could.
Timmy wrote on 18 October, 2009, 15:57
You may be right, however Rants knows the legislature inside and out and probably wouldn’t have as much trouble getting things done than you might think. Yes, he can be abrasive but is that always necessarily a bad thing? Sometimes it takes an A-hole to get things done!
Conservative Demo wrote on 18 October, 2009, 17:54
This observer perceives Rants as exactly that.
Peggy wrote on 18 October, 2009, 18:12
Based on what?
desmoinesdem wrote on 18 October, 2009, 20:05
Rants doesn’t like Branstad. There’s no way those two end up on the same ticket.
Conservative Demo wrote on 18 October, 2009, 20:43
Peglet, izzat “based on” question aimed my way?

Assuming so, I base my perception of Rants on watching a half hour of him being interviewed on the IPTV Sunday morning / Friday night political show sometime maybe almost two years ago. He was on sharing the hot seat with some demo legislator whom I don’t now remember. The interviewers were the usual Glover, Henderson, and Yepson. My memory is that Rants managed for a full half hour to keep himself angry, nasty, scowling, snarly, and generally unpleasant.
Peggy wrote on 19 October, 2009, 0:57
Imagine….an admitted Democrat not liking a Republican legislator. Surely there’s no bias involved here.
Conservative Demo wrote on 19 October, 2009, 7:18
Unabashed and unashamed.