Can Chet Culver beat Jim Nussle in the 2006 gubernatorial race?

[nickshepDEM]

I just wanted to get some of your opinions on this potential 2006 gubernatorial race. At a neutral board I frequent most of the Iowa residents are claiming Nussle already has this thing in the bag. What are you thoughts on this race?

Iowa Secretary of State Chet Culver (D)



http://www.chetculver.com/

U.S. Congressman Jim Nussle (R)



http://www.jimnussle.com/nussle/

[progressoid]

1. Are you sure it's a neutral board?

I haven't seen any numbers anywhere to suggest either guy as a winner yet. Sounds like wishful thinking from the GOP.

He's not my Rep, but he could be in trouble if he keeps pushing his connection to Bush considering Bush's sinking approval rating.

[Bluzmann57]

2. Nussle is my rep

and I recently called his branch office here in Davenport about 1-why he hasn't condemned DeLay yet, and 2-his take on SS reform. The woman who I talked to stated that there were several "town hall" style meetings going on around the district and I told her that I was aware of that, but I couldn't attend the one here because I actually have a job and have to go to work. I also told her that I just couldn't see using a bunch of gasoline to drive to any other meetings within the district, because its just too damn expensive. She got a bit short with me about the DeLay thing. She said they were just allegations and I said maybe, but when they keep on coming, something must be true. She then tried to change the subject back to SS meetings, to which I replied, "Why don't you answer my question about the Nussle-DeLay connection?". I also told her again that I wished to know about his stance on SS reforms, as she hadn't answered that yet. She asked me for my email addy and I told here that its personal and besides, I'm already on his email list. I want answers. She then more or less told me to screw myself. When she said goodbye, it wasn't at all pleasant. So the moral of the story may be, Nussle understands that DeLay is taking him, and others down with him. This will certainly hurt his gubenatorial bid as long as it gets honestly reported on. There is a newspaper here that will do just that. The QCTimes will follow this story if they are aware of it.

[CoffeeCat]

3. Nussle has nothing in the bag...

Given that Iowa is only slightly a red state, I'm unsure why anyone would claim that he has it in the bag.

Nussle is a conservative and he's closely aligned with the extremist Republicans in Congress--as well as Bush.

Many are not happy with the conservatives. Their current behavior is reminiscent of the Gingrich "Contract With America" situation that blew up in their faces.

Chet Culver could definitely beat Nussle.

I would definitely support him. He served well as SOS and is a good spokesperson for Iowa. Vilsack would leverage him, as would other popular Dems.

Culver seems like a decent, intelligent guy.

Doesn't Nussle have some family issues? That won't play well with conservatives and I think many are sick of the "family values" rhetoric that isn't matched with actions.

That's my 2 cents.

[cornfedyank]

11. the race is past personalities..momentum rules

wage peace it's cheaper.

clean water is worth a lot.

[Counciltucky]

4. Remember 1998...

Jim Ross Lightfoot, a US Congressman, was supposed to manhandle Vilsack. We all know the results of that.

[4dsc]

5. What nuetral board...

Is it in Iowa?? Please do tell..

Personally, Nussle has alot to answer to, especially the fiscal irresponsibility of republicans while in control of the house.. Not to mention his friendship with Newt and Delay!!

I cannot wait for him to run!!

[DU9598]

6. Culver or Blouin can win

Labor and Iowa Trial Lawyers will be working over-time (without pay) to make 2006 the year of the donkey in Iowa.

Nussle will be tied directly to the ballooning federal budget deficit. He is the chair of the budget committee. Conservatives do not like deficits - or so I have been told. Nussle has intern issues, he divorced his wife after an affair to marry one. Conservative do not live adulterers - or so I have been told. His base might not materialize.

I am much more concerned about Vander Plats getting the Republican nomination. He is a soft spoken small businessman with a great young family. He is out of the mainstream conservative, but he does not come across that way. Plus, Vander Plats does not have a voting record that we can hold him too.

But, fellow Democrats, look forward to 2006 and start donating today and start organizing today.

[Rambis]

7. Nussle has a ton of cash

So his message will get out. We need to hammer the fact that he has presided over the largest budget deficit in the history of man and woman kind. No one has made a bigger mess of the budget than the signer of the contract with america for a balanced budget amendment. Even without 9/11 and the Iraq war these clowns have spent us into oblivion so they can gut social programs. I can't wait to ask jim... "you want to do for the Iowa budget what you have done for the rest of the country? We will pass thank you. Watch out for the fundie from sioux city he doesn't have a record we can hammer on and we don't know how much of a whack job he is. Not that that matters since bush's record was a failure at every turn in Texas but we "elected" him president TWICE!!!!

[cornfedyank]

12. if your march toward freedom is so right, then why not pay for it?

http://www.brillig.com/debt_clock/

$7.8 trillion/ a big pile of quarters.

de oppresso liber
how does one free the oppressed?

[progressoid]

8. Yes, I think Vander Platts could be a problem in the more deep red

parts of Iowa (like his home turf). I'd prefer Nussle to get the nomination - easier target.

[Debi]

9. After reading some of the answers on this thread I wonder...

How has Nussle been able to win in a Democratic leaning district? He appears and behaves as a moderate in public and at public forums. His newsletters sent out at taxpayer expense talk about what he is doing for his constituency (and he does get pork for projects in counties where he needs Democrat or no party votes - Dubuque/Clinton/Scott).

If his divorce didn't hurt him in 1996 and his marriage to a lobbyist in 2002 didn't hurt him in 2002 they're not going to hurt him now.

He's never shaken that young thoughtful nice boy that would never harm a soul image. People vote for him because he seems like a leader, a nice guy who will represent their best interests.

It doesn't matter who we put up against Nussle in 2006. He will have a whisper campaign out about all of our candidates during the primary - never traceable back to him. He will be cute at debates and make people chuckle but never truly answer the hard questions.

He is slippery, he is smart, and he will be well funded.

Don't think for a second the Governor's office is his last stop.

Jim Nussle is running for President.

[Hardrada]

14. You have the best take on Nussle.

We have not been able to take him out in our district but we have not been running very good candidates against him. Nussle's base, as I have mentioned before, are the elderly who come to his town hall meetings to ask detailed questions about their benefits etc. and Nussle brings along staff to help them then and there. And then can proceed to ignore or deride or doubletalk his way around substantive issues. I am sure he plants some people in his audience to deride antiwar people for example. A very slick TEFLON guy and he can only be beaten if he is weakened by a divisive primary where he is goaded into using his extremely nasty wolverine campaign tactics on VanderPlaats. We can't let Nussle get in close range since then it will be way too close to call.

[Debi]

15. Thank you and what a perfect idea!

Make certain that Nussle HAS to show his true colors not against a Dem candidate but against one of his own. I don't know how well he'll do if he has to take off his mask in a primary and then try to put it back on in the general.

[pstans]

10. What about Ed Fallon?

I have liked what I have heard about him. http://fallonforgovernor.com/

He seems like a longshot, but he is progressive and has experience in the Iowa Senate. It might be hard for anyone to beat Culver in a primary.

[DU9598]

13. Fallon

Long shot is probably being optimistic. He is in the Iowa House, not the Senate. Ed does a lot of good in the House, he should stay there.

Debi, your analysis is very good on Nussle. I have some of the same thoughts on Culver. Culver is well funded and very smooth and seems very down home Iowan. I also think Culver is running for President.

[Debi]

16. Culver is young enough to go from Gov. to Senate before a WH bid

He has some national experience with the caucuses, but I'd like to see him with legislative experience. (Of course the Governor's seat would give him that).