tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6719252574677567989.post2995006875387035016..comments2024-03-26T05:22:08.256-04:00Comments on Frontloading HQ: FHQ Friday Fun: Things are More Fun in IowaJosh Putnamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06301836432446874997noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6719252574677567989.post-39725876636074687202009-10-09T20:27:17.727-04:002009-10-09T20:27:17.727-04:00It is a rather curious situation, isn't it? I...It is a rather curious situation, isn't it? I think there are a couple of factors at play. First, Branstad is a known quantity, whereas the other Republicans are not. What's Vander Plaats got? A Huckabee endorsement? Secondly, Branstad went out on a good note. The late '90s was a good time to be leaving office. Thad Beyle from FHQ alma mater, UNC, sums this second point up nicely in a recent <a href="http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article/20090919/NEWS/90919016" rel="nofollow">Des Moines Register piece</a> on the subject:<br /><br />"They see him as having presided during good times,” said Thad Beyle, a University of North Carolina political scientist who studies gubernatorial approval. <br /><br />"They are kind of looking back and thinking things aren’t that great and might have been better when he was in charge."<br /><br />If Branstad jumps in and is the nominee, his numbers will change once the campaign starts. Still, that is a sizable margin.Josh Putnamhttp://frontloading.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6719252574677567989.post-79545372816803860972009-10-09T19:14:50.781-04:002009-10-09T19:14:50.781-04:00Great ad.
Does anyone more familiar with Iowa pol...Great ad.<br /><br />Does anyone more familiar with Iowa politics know why Branstad not only has such a sizeable lead in the polls over Culver, but has such a big lead when every other Republican in the state is trailing Culver badly? Branstad hasn't been governor in quite a while, and it isn't like he was winning with 70% of the vote when he was; he got 57% in 1994, impressive until you consider that he was a three-term incumbent in a very Republican year. Certainly not enough to explain the poll numbers.Jackhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04365194237710177589noreply@blogger.com