Iowa Farm Bureau endorses five Republicans
August 17, 2010 by O.Kay Henderson · Leave a Comment
The Iowa Farm Bureau’s political action committee has made its endorsements for the fall election. Read the release below.
IOWA FARM BUREAU ANNOUNCES 2010 FRIENDS OF AG, RECORD STATEWIDE MEMBER PARTICIPATION
WEST DES MOINES, IOWA – Aug. 17, 2010 – The Iowa Farm Bureau Political Action Committee (PAC) has named its selections for the 2010 Friends of Agriculture endorsement. Candidates seeking state and national offices this fall have earned endorsement by the state’s largest grassroots farm organization based on their support of agriculture, voting record and support for Iowa’s rural communities.
“Friends of Agriculture designations are carefully chosen for demonstrating support for our farmers and issues that directly impact their families, businesses and communities. It comes down to more than words; it’s their actions that are also examined,” said Mary Heintz, PAC Chair and a farmer from Marengo. “This year, 95 out of 100 Farm Bureau counties participated in the designation process. That record participation shows our farmers are motivated to support candidates that support farmers and rural Iowa during this very crucial election period. The candidates chosen must have a clear understanding and voting record of support for Farm Bureau policy,” said Heintz.
In the Iowa Governor’s race, the Iowa Farm Bureau PAC has chosen Terry Branstad and for Iowa Secretary of Agriculture, Bill Northey. Chuck Grassley was identified as a Friend of Agriculture in the U.S. Senate race.
Tom Latham (District 4) and Steve King (District 5) were also recognized as Friends of Agriculture in the congressional races. The Farm Bureau PAC also gave the designation to candidates in 11 Iowa Senate and 51 Iowa House districts.
The grassroots effort to designate Friends of Agriculture is guided by members and begins in July when county committees start evaluating candidates. The nine-member PAC committee carefully reviews evaluations and questionnaires, while also considering candidates’ positions on issues of importance to members, leadership on Farm Bureau priorities and past voting records.Here is the list of all the candidates who are “friends” of the Farm Bureau’s PAC.
Tom Vilsack on David Broder
August 17, 2010 by O.Kay Henderson · Leave a Comment
US Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack, the former Iowa governor, is visiting the Iowa State Fair today. During a brief news conference, Vilsack was asked for his reaction to Washington Post columnist David Broder’s Sunday column.
Vilsack told about his first experience with Broder, in early 1999. Listen to it here. It involves a farm tragedy, a Broder column and a $10,000 check that helped a widow send her child to college.
“David Broder and I have always been good friends,” Vilsack said to conclude the story.
IowaRepublican.com poll on ’12 presidential race
August 16, 2010 by O.Kay Henderson · Leave a Comment
Click here to read the details on the IowaRepublican.com poll released today. Here’s how the Iowans surveyed ranked the field of potential 2012 Republican presidential candidates: Mike Huckabee at 22 percent, Mitt Romney at 18 percent, Newt Gingrich at 14 percent, Sarah Palin at 11 percent, Ron Paul at 5 percent. The poll has a 4.5 percent margin of error, so take that into account. It means there’s a statistical tie for first and third in this poll.
David Broder on Vilsack
August 16, 2010 by O.Kay Henderson · Leave a Comment
It looks like the venerable David Broder of The Washington Post had an hour-long conversation with U.S. Secretary Tom Vilsack, the former Iowa governor. Broder wrote a column in Sunday’s Washington Post. If you have access to the Post website, you can read it. I’m not going to link, because it requires registration if you aren’t part of the Post network.
Another Branstad grandchild
August 16, 2010 by O.Kay Henderson · Leave a Comment
Tim Albrecht, communications director for Terry Branstad’s gubernatorial campaign, emeiled news this morning:
Terry and Chris Branstad were excited to welcome granddaughter Sofia Christine Costa into the world, daughter of Jerry and Allison (Branstad) Costa, on Saturday afternoon. Sofia is their third granddaughter, and weighed in at 7 lbs. 4 oz. Mom and baby are doing great.
Narcisse avoids Friday the 13th
August 12, 2010 by O.Kay Henderson · Leave a Comment
Friday, August 13, 2010 is the deadline for candidates for state and federal office to file the paperwork required to have their names printed on the November ballot. Jonathan Narcisse ended the speculation today and the latest information indicates Narcisse filed his nominating petitions to run for governor under the “Iowa Party” banner on August 12 (today).
(For those of you just reading about Narcisse for the first time, Narcisse had said he’d run against Chet Culver in the Democratic Primary, but changed his mind.)
Here’s the latest candidate list for Iowa’s U.S. Senate seat, congressional seats, statewide elected offices and legislative races.
Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty visits Iowa State Fair
August 12, 2010 by O.Kay Henderson · 1 Comment
In the top photo, Iowa Ag Secretary Bill Northey (a Republican) walks/talks with Pawlenty as the two stroll down the Grand Concourse of the Iowa State Fair.
The bottom photo shows the duo at the grill in the Iowa Pork Producers stand at the Iowa State Fair. This is a rite of passage for political candidates. U.S. Senator Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) was manning the same grill about 45 minutes later. Harkin, who is not seeking reelection and didn’t really “broadcast” his events on the fairgrouds this year, chatted and flipped chops for about 20 minutes before pouring water for people who’d paid for a pork chop dinner and were sitting under the Pork Producers tent.
Pawlenty chatted with me briefly after he had donned an apron and the preparations were being made for his State Fair grilling experience.
He wisely didn’t declare a winner in the Iowa State Fair versus the Minnesota State Fair competition.
“My first impression is this is a fabulous state fair and I think Iowa and Minnesota have two of the best state fairs in the country,” Pawlenty said, “so we’re proud of both.”
I asked him about the results of this past week’s primaries.
“The way I look at it is there’s a little bit of a mixed story. Different states had a little different results, but each state is different. It has its own culture and tradition, it’s own perspective on the direction of the party.
“But I think the consistent theme is the Republican Party remains a conservative party and you’ve got people who are very concerned about the direction of their states who have stepped forward and it’s good to get these primaries…done so that we can focus on the real battle which is growing jobs and growing the economy and hopefully getting Republicans back in control in the Iowa legislature and Minnesota and elsewhere.”
As Pawlenty stepped toward the high heat of the charcoal grills, I stepped to the side and asked one of the pork producers who’s been working the grill if he’d given up his post reluctantly or with gusto. “It’s all right!” said the pork producer, who is from Cass County, Iowa, and stood aside as Pawlenty manned a spatula. ”I don’t have to do it, and I can get cool.”
Good news from Kiernan: tumor was benign
August 11, 2010 by O.Kay Henderson · Leave a Comment
“It’s the best possible outcome,” Erin Kiernan said.
Erin Kiernan, wife of former Iowa Democratic Party chairman Michael Kiernan, just called the Radio Iowa newsroom with good news. Her husband’s surgeon called the couple last night to say the tumor removed from around Kiernan’s salivary gland last week was benign.
As you may recall, Michael Kiernan announced in June that he was resigning immediately as party chairman due to health reasons. He had a tumor on his salivary gland. That tumor was removed in a four-hour-long surgery performed last Thursday at University of Iowa hospitals in Iowa City.
Kiernan now faces what his wife describes as an “extended” recovery period, but it appears the surgery was a success. The surgeon — Dr. Jerry Funk — “got the tumor out” and it appears there was no damage to a facial nerve that could have been damaged in the procedure.
The Kiernans are at home in Des Moines now. “We’ll hopefully have a better fall than we did a spring and summer,” Erin Kiernan said during our conversation. ”…It’s the best possible outcome.”
Father Culver to campaign for son
August 11, 2010 by O.Kay Henderson · 1 Comment
Former U.S. Congressman and Senator John Culver will campaign this month for his son, Governor Chet Culver.
SENATOR JOHN CULVER CAMPAIGNS FOR CULVER/JUDGE TEAM
Des Moines – Senator John Culver will make various campaign stops across Iowa for the Culver/Judge Campaign this weekend.
“It’s great to see him reconnect with friends from all over Iowa and spend some time with his grandchildren at Terrace Hill,” Governor Culver said Wednesday. “I’m also looking forward to several great campaign events as we begin to tap into all the enthusiasm suporters are showing for this campaign as we head into the fall.”
Before serving Iowa as Senator, Senator John Culver represented the 2nd Congressional District in the House of Representatives for 10 years. He is currently the interim Director of the Kennedy School’s Institute of Politics at Harvard University.
The following events are open to the public and the press.
THURSDAY, AUGUST 12, 2010
WHAT: Senator John Culver visits the Iowa Democratic Party’s booth and visits the Pork Producer’s Tent at the Iowa State Fair
WHERE: Iowa State Fair Grounds
3000 East Grand Avenue
Des Moines, IA 50317
WHEN: 11:00 AMWHAT: Senator John Culver and Governor Chet Culver attend North Iowa Democratic Wing Ding
WHERE: Surf Ballroom
460 North Shore Dr.
Clear Lake, IA 50428
WHEN: 6:00 PM
*Tickets are $25.FRIDAY, AUGUST 13, 2010
WHAT: Senator John Culver visits with friends in Labor and local supporters
WHERE: UAW Hall
2615 Washington St.
Waterloo, IA 50702
WHEN: 12:00 PM
SATURDAY, AUGUST 14, 2010
WHAT: Senator John Culver visits with friends in Labor and local supporters
WHERE: UAW Hall
3450 Central Ave.
Dubuque, IA 52001
WHEN: 10:00 AM
WHAT: Senator John Culver attends Corn Boil Fundraiser
WHERE: Pat Johnson and Cheri Canier’s Residence
1800 Deer Creek E
Clinton, IA 52732
WHEN: 4:00 PM
*Tickets are $10.
Branstad accepts debates in western, central & eastern Iowa
August 10, 2010 by O.Kay Henderson · Leave a Comment
Read the release from Branstad’s campaign below:
Branstad accepts three debate invitations
(URBANDALE) – The Governor Branstad 2010 campaign today announced that it will accept three general election debate invitations against Gov. Culver this fall.
“These three debates will offer statewide coverage to the people of Iowa, and showcase the real choice that exists in this election,” said Branstad 2010 campaign manager Jeff Boeyink. “Gov. Branstad looks forward to sharing his positive vision for job creation, balancing Iowa’s state budget and restoring Iowa’s leadership position in education. We are excited to participate in these three debates.”
The debates accepted by the Governor Branstad 2010 campaign are as follows:
1. Lee Enterprises/KCAU-TV/WQAD-TV Gubernatorial Debate
Time and date to be determined
Sioux City, IA2. The Cedar Rapids Gazette/KCRG-TV 9 Gubernatorial Debate
Thursday, October 7, 2010
7 p.m.
Cedar Rapids, IA3. Des Moines Register/Iowa Public Television Debate
October 21, 2010
Noon
Iowa Public Television Studios
Johnston, IABoeyink added that the campaign looks forward to one as-yet-determined debate between the lieutenant governor candidates as well.
UPDATE: the Culver campaign has issued a response. Read it below.
STATEMENT FROM CULVER/JUDGE CAMPAIGN ON BRANSTAD’S ACCEPTANCE OF DEBATES
Des Moines – Culver/Judge Communications Director Ali Glisson released the statement below in response to the Branstad Campaign’s acceptance of debates:
“This race is about offering a choice to Iowans. Do we want to continue moving forward with the Culver/Judge Administration? Or, do we want to turn back with Terry Branstad and repeal programs like preschool and the Iowa Power Fund and cut programs like Hawk-I.
“Debates allow both campaigns to make that choice clear to Iowans. Once voters learn about Terry Branstad’s extreme positions compared to the mainstream positions of Governor Culver on issues such as jobs and preschool and after the people of Iowa see both candidates debate, we are confident that they will overwhelmingly support Chet Culver for re-election.
“What is also concerning is that the Branstad campaign has offered no assurances that these debates will be open to the press and the public.
“Remember, this is the same campaign that thought it was acceptable to not mandate that all of their primary debates were open to the press and the public. We believe that any Iowan who is interested should have the ability to attend a debate and that the press must have access.
“We are happy that they have agreed to debates and this is a good start. We look forward to discussing the details further with the Branstad campaign and with the various debate sponsors.”
