Some Culver news...

[IA_Seth]

From the skinny...lots of interesting stuff of course, but I figured this would interest you most...


http://www.dmcityview.com/skinny.shtml

"One thing is certain, however, and that is that Chet Culver will not be abandoning his campaign for governor, no matter what Boswell decides. We listed a number of scenarios in this column last week, but a source close to Culver said that he will indeed "not reverse course." "What you guys don't seem to get is that Chet has (Mike) Blouin tripled up on name recognition, he's raised $750,000 and is well on his way to $1 million, and hasn't really even begun to campaign or tap Washington for cash. He's keeping his head down and making phone calls. Mike can have all the endorsements he wants. That's just background noise six months before the primary. Chet wants the money, because Chet wants to be the one telling the story."

[Debi]

1. Thanks for the head's up Seth!

I think Pederson running for Boswell's seat is a disaster waiting to happen "Just like she took over the state party, if she views it as a role she has to fill, she'll step up. She always has stepped up." I really don't want someone running for Congress who feels they 'have to' run. I'd rather have a candidate who WANTS to run. And BTW, how well is Sally doing as head of the IDP? Anyone? Anyone?

[haroldgiowa]

2. It will all come down to GOTV

I went to a introduction get together with Blouin in attendance in Lee County back in August. Around the room set most of the central committee and all the elected county officials. Lee County is truly a democratic county with only one elected republican in the last thirty years. It seams that he is courting those who get the voters to the polls and those active in the party at the county level. And in a primary you don't have to push hard to bring in the numbers.

I don't recall any numbers for voters in the past, but I would bet the per centage was low. So the key is organization. In Lee County it is going to come down to absentee ballots swinging the election to the eventual winner of the county.

[IA_Seth]

3. That seems to be Blouin's strategy...

He seems to be courting the Central Committees and electeds quite heavily in these parts (Linn County), and seems to have a pretty large backing in the labor field as well. Central Committees seem natural places to find activist-types, those who will go out and drum up votes.

Money can go a long way though, and if Culver can improve his presentation of his ideas and spend himself into recognition I think he can't be counted out just yet.

[blueloo]

4. Of the possible Boswell replacements mentioned...

Which possible candidates in the hypothetical of Boswell retiring get people excited?
Here's Cityveiw's reported list of sorts:

LG Pederson
State Sen. Matt McCoy
State Sen. Jack Hatch
State Rep. Janet Petersen
current Des Moines Mayor Frank Cownie
former Des Moines Mayor Preston Daniels

[Debi]

6. Thanks again, Seth

And remember that Culver has a long list of activists supporting him as well.

Labor will be a strong factor and it will be interesting to see if the UAW, IA Fed and the new group (what the heck is their name?) get involved or wait out the primary.

I agree that for regular primary voters it will come down to feet on the street and a strong absentee ballot push. But for people who are only general election voters but are swayed by outside sources, money, money, money will get them to vote.

If the Civic Skinny is to be believed, Culver still has the corner on that market. I don't know why Blouin would have trouble raising money with the Governor behind the scenes working for him....unless people are getting tired of Tom Vilsack telling them what to do.

[IA_Seth]

8. Labor

I don't know if any organized labor group has explicitly endorsed any candidate right now? I could be wrong. I was just guessing based on the number of people who supported him at the labor fundraiser I attended last week.

I will keep my eyes and ears open and let you know if I hear anything official.

[rurallib]

5. Lot of people wondering what Chet's doing

Blouin's grabbing headlines, Fallon's working very hard. Culver seems to be idling, waiting for something. Thanks for the update. Culver seems to be acting as if he's too good to get dirty. Looked at his website last night and saw nothing of consequence, like he's afraid to take a stand. Oh well. Long time til June.
At least these people aren't slicing and dicing each other, making it easy for the repugs to find fault.
God, just thinking of Nussle makes me want to puke. Seriously.

[Debi]

7. Then you're not hearing any of the whispers coming from the campaigns

Cuz in their speeches the candidates are taking jabs at each other and their staffs are already spreading rumors.

I don't think Chet is too good to get dirty, I think he's working on raising that $1,000,000.00 he wants to have when he announces. And if you believe the Civic Skinny, he's damn close.

I agree that he needs to get out and about (and not on stage giving speeches) into people's houses and central committee meetings. He needs to court more activists and get them to realize he has governing power. He's a strong, honest person, he needs to show that he doesn't need coattails to get elected (the recent poll should show that)!

[haroldgiowa]

9. Polls

What I interpret from the Zogby poll, is everybody is within the margin of error. The republicans think that they have the in because of the 2004 vote for Bush. I wished Iowa would have had a recount.

Only three votes per precinct and we could have been a blue state. Everything else leaned to Iowa being closer to being blue state in the legislature. Clinton won both years and memory tells me Reagan only won in 84.

I don't like negative campaigning, period. It probably gets me to write something here faster then anything. Yes we are an all inclusive party and have many trains of thought, but sometimes we do the republicans bidding by eating our own.

Sometimes in the fall election, I can't find any difference in the republican candidate and the republican candidate so what determines who I vote for. It is simple. It comes down to who the candidate hangs his hat with.

[Debi]

10. Don't forget - Gore won Iowa as well

We are a blue state!!

[haroldgiowa]

11. Don't forget Dukakus

I also think if there would have been a recount in Iowa we would have been blue this year. Or maybe just wishful thinking.

Should have reconted Nevada and New mexico while they were at it.