Josh Goodman is a former staff writer for GOVERNING..
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The Return of Terry Branstad?
Iowa Gov. Chet Culver appears to be in better shape than many governors who are up for reelection next year, which isn't saying too much. Culver's approval numbers are either pretty good or pretty bad, depending on the polling.
Many Republicans are intrigued by the idea of Branstad riding to the rescue. I've heard numerous variations of "I'd vote for him, no question."
...
Branstad has said consistently he's flattered by the attention, but he's focused on DMU. He also has repeatedly refused to rule out another run. "I learned a long time ago, you never want to say never," he told me earlier this week, "because it takes away all your options."
The Democrat's big advantage is that his Republican opponents are all unproven. None of them has won statewide office before.
That's true, anyways, of his five current Republican opponents. That's why Iowa Republicans can't help hoping, speculating and wishing that former four-term governor Terry Branstad will try to reclaim his old job. Branstad isn't completely quashing those hopes, as Kathie Obradovich of the Des Moines Register reports:
The Branstad buzz rose in the past week, after a GOP Web site released a poll showing the former governor with a 16-point lead in a hypothetical matchup against Culver.Many Republicans are intrigued by the idea of Branstad riding to the rescue. I've heard numerous variations of "I'd vote for him, no question."
...
Branstad has said consistently he's flattered by the attention, but he's focused on DMU. He also has repeatedly refused to rule out another run. "I learned a long time ago, you never want to say never," he told me earlier this week, "because it takes away all your options."
Twitter: @governing
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