Iowa Governor - Doug Gross drops out of race

Doug Gross, the 2002 Republican nominee has dropped out of the race for Iowa governor.  Even though he ran a close race against Vilsack, Gross had barely won a three-way Republican primary, and he was carrying some heavy baggage.  Influential columnist David Yepsen handicapped the race in today's column.

Gross Made Right Choice by Not Running (Des Moines Register)

Even though he was the GOP nominee in the last gubernatorial election, there was dissatisfaction in the party ranks with the prospect of another run. Gross' law firm had represented large hog confinements in the past, and his foes had successfully painted him as a big-city, big-hog-lot lawyer.

This leaves Congressman Jim Nussle (IA-1) and Bob Vander Plaats as the two leading Republican contenders.  Nussle is the chairman of the House Budget committee, and he has been a loyal Bushco lieutenant.  He has lots of money and the support of the establishment.  Vander Plaats is a social conservative, who ran unexpectedly well four years ago.  In the primary, he may try to capitalize on Nussle's messy personal life.  (Years ago, Nussle divorced his wife and three children to marry his much younger aide.)

I discussed the Democratic candidates in an earlier diary.

•  Tips

  This is shaping up to be an interesting race.  We'll have competitive primaries on both sides.

  by corncam on Tue Mar 01, 2005 at 07:24:31 AM PDT

  •  Categorization

    CategoryElection2006

    by corncam on Tue Mar 01, 2005 at 07:38:55 AM PDT

•  Hopefully they'll do a lot of damage to each other

  If they can manage to damage each other enough in the primaries who ever eventually wins will have a tougher time against Vilsack.  I'm assuming Vilsack will be running again - am I right?  

  by HootieMcBoob on Tue Mar 01, 2005 at 07:30:41 AM PDT

  •  Vilsack is not running for a third term.

    and Lt. Gov. Sally Pedersen has also said that she won't run.  The leading Democrats are Secretary of State Chet Culver and Director of Economic Development Mike Bluin.

    by corncam on Tue Mar 01, 2005 at 07:37:52 AM PDT

    •  Thanks for the information

      Have their been any polls with Culver or Bluin against either of the Republicans that you know of?

      by HootieMcBoob on Tue Mar 01, 2005 at 07:51:32 AM PDT

      •  Polls?

        Nope, I haven't seen any polls, but this is a swing state, and I expect it to come down to the wire.

        by corncam on Tue Mar 01, 2005 at 08:22:30 AM PDT

•  Iowa Governor

  It'll be Chet Culver, I have no doubt... although Ed Fallon will keep the slightly more progressive perspective in the picture. I'd love to see them as our team!

  Nussle is nothing more than cute packaging... remember him with the bag over his head, on the house floor? LOL! Whata Maroon!

  by Hawkeye on Tue Mar 01, 2005 at 08:54:17 AM PDT