Does Branstad Really Want to Win Over Vander Plaats Supporters?

Republican Gubernatorial nominee Terry Branstad seems to be laboring under a mistaken notion that supporters of his former opponent Bob Vander Plaats will naturally gravitate toward his campaign because they have nowhere else to go. Branstad seems to be either unwilling or unable to accept the reality that today’s political landscape is much different from the one during his last campaign more almost twenty years ago. A larger portion of the electorate no longer selects a candidate based upon their party affiliation instead opting for the issues espoused by the candidates. How else could a four term, undefeated former Governor come so close to getting beat in his own party’s primary race. If the staffers of the Branstad campaign really want him to win the election they would do well to dispel the former Governor of his antiquated notion because despite Branstads assertion there are indeed places for Vander Plaats supporters to go in the general election.

Of course if Branstad continues to campaign with the false belief described above it will only serve to help some of the third party and independent candidates that have tossed their hats into the ring. The Libertarian candidate for Governor, Eric Cooper, is certainly a rising star in Iowa politics. If you would remember it was Mr. Cooper that wowed the members of Iowan’s for Tax Relief at their candidate forum a few months ago and I am sure that he would welcome with open arms disaffected Republicans looking for a candidate. As would independent candidate Jonathon Narcisse. Narcisse is another candidate that has fared well with the ITR crowd and has an additional bonus from being an outspoken member of the Des Moines School Board. Of course we cannot forget about the Constitution Party candidate Rick Phillips. I currently don’t know much about Mr. Phillips, but you can rest assured that I will do my research on him.

The fact that supporters of Vander Plaats are not happy with the Republican nominee was apparent at the 2010 Republican Party of Iowa State Convention where his selection for his running mate was almost defeated for the nomination. Because of this apparent division the Branstad campaign decided to dispatch the Lieutenant Governor nominee Kim Reynolds in an attempt to win over the voters that supported Bob Vander Plaats. Then in an interview in the rural community of Carroll Reynolds blew whatever chances she had at winning over skeptical Republican voters. I won’t rehash the interview; you can check it out here on the Iowa Independent. All I will say about the interview is that the comments she made will NOT win over any Vander Plaats supporters.

If the Branstad campaign is not careful it will do more to alienate Vander Plaats supporters than it will to win them over. The first step in the right direction for Branstad would be to remember that his continued insistence that they will end up supporting him is a relic from the past. In the end I must wonder if Branstad really does want to win over Vander Plaats supporters?