On the Campaign Trail with Ed Tibbetts

Iowa Democrats are striking back at former Gov. Terry Branstad for criticizing Gov. Chet Culver’s I-JOBS initiative, the $830 million bonding plan the Legislature approved last session.

Branstad said at a Republican fundraiser over the weekend that too much debt is bad and the borrower “ought to be thrown out of office.”

The Iowa Democratic Party issued a news release today saying Branstad borrowed $994 million (in today’s dollars) between 1989 and 1994.

“Branstad appears to be joining the chorus of Republicans who would have done nothing to help our state through this recession,” IDP Chairman Michael Kiernan said. “And in Branstad’s case, that’s not only wrong, it’s disingenuous given his past decisions.”

Des Moines lawyer Roxanne Conlin apparently is getting ready to join the Democratic field wanting to run against U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa.

Tom Beaumont of the Des Moines Register has the story here.

Conlin tells the Register it’s “more likely than not” she’ll run.

Already, Bob Krause of Fairfield and Tom Fiegen of Clarence are seeking the Democratic nomination.

There’s been growing speculation a well known Democrat would join the race ever since party chair Michael Kiernan said a high powered “first round draft pick” was waiting to run.

Not sure if Conlin was the person Kiernan was speaking of, but she’s certainly a well known Democrat in political circles, and she does bring an ability to raise money.

Of course, it’s been 27 years since she’s been on a statewide ballot. She ran for governor in 1982 against another familiar pol who appears to be looking to make a comeback next year, Terry Branstad.

The Draft Branstad committee announced today it’s reformulating.

This comes on the heels of the announcement that Jeff Boeyink, executive director of the state Republican Party, is taking the top staff job at Branstad’s gubernatorial campaign committee.

It also comes as Democrats complain the Draft Branstad group is breaking the law by expressly advocating the former governor’s election.

“Breaking the law at the start of your campaign” said Democratic Chairman Michael Kiernen, “really sends an awful message to Iowans about what kind of leadership you will offer going forward.”

Democrats said it’s illegal for the group, a 527, to directly back a candidate. And ever since the former governor filed papers last week he became a candidate, they say. (Charlie Smithson, the executive director of the state ethics board, appeared to be sympathetic, according to Radio Iowa. It reported today Smithson was suggesting the Draft Branstad group change its name).

Instead, Draft Branstad is declaring ‘mission accomplished’ and reformulating.

Sandy Greiner sent a statement today. She didn’t acknowledge the Democrats’ complaints, but said Boeyink’s hiring and Branstad’s filing last week convinced the group the ex-governor will run.

(By the way, Richard Schwarm, a Branstad associate, says neither insure the ex-governor will run. He’s still in the exploratory phase.)

At any rate, Greiner says:

“While Draft Branstad PAC will draw to a close, our efforts will not cease; instead we will continue this movement for change here in Iowa. Please follow our new organization — NextGenPAC — that will work day in and day out to perfect the change Iowans desire,” she said.

Bob Krause, the Fairfield Democrat seeking the party’s nomination to run against U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley, is objecting to Michael Kiernan’s comments last week raising the prospect of a third candidate.

Kiernan, the chair of the Iowa Democratic Party, said on IPTV’s “Iowa Press” last Friday that there is a “first round draft pick” waiting to announce, and that Grassley would be “in for the race of his life.”

Today, Krause challenged the mystery candidate to raise his head. He also objected to Kiernan’s teaser. He said it harkens back to “the era of the king makers.”

“Kingmaking politics just doesn’t work in a state that is this small,” he added.

The other candidate, Tom Fiegen, a Clarance lawyer, was more subdued. He said Monday that Kiernan “got carried away.” But he adds he wasn’t offended. He acknowledged that, like everybody, Kiernan is concerned about a challenger’s ability to raise money.

Grassley had $3.8 million in the bank at the end of June. The Democrats had raised hardly any money.

UPDATE (3:45 p.m.): Kiernan issued a statement this afternoon. He praised Krause and Fiegen and said while it’s his job to recruit the best candidates possible, the party has been neutral in the Senate race.

“I am absolutely certain the party will have a very strong nominee with a real chance to be elected to the U.S. Senate. I am excited about that,” he said.