Branstad Announces Lt. Governor Pick Thursday

And the winner is... well, we still don't know who Iowa Republican candidate for governor Terry Branstad will pick as his running mate. But we do know he will announce Thursday. We figured the decision might come then. Friday isn't the day a campaign or governmental office usually picks to announce big news. Well, unless it's bad news with the hopes no one will pay attention as people look ahead to their weekend. By announcing Thursday morning, Branstad gets the preview pieces on the Wednesday evening news and the Thursday morning news (providing we don't figure out the pick before he announces it). Then, he gets the coverage with his running mate Thursday night. He will get more mentions Friday as people look ahead to the Republican state convention on Saturday, where delegates would officially approve the choice (providing Bob Vander Plaats' supporters don't pull off a stunning coup and get him approved instead). Then, of course, he gets more attention of the coverage of the actual convention Saturday. Four days worth of coverage, you could argue, for one decision. "Strategery".

The announcement tour begins in Ankeny Thursday. Hmmm...Ankeny. Now, who is the former state senate president who lives in Ankeny? Jeff Lamberti. Yeah, that's the guy. Is he THE guy? Lamberti seems to be one of the most-mentioned possibilities as a running mate. He said he would likely be interested.

Lamberti has always seemed to be relieved to be out of politics when I've talked with him the past few years. His dad owns Casey's General Stores. He owns the Iowa Barnstormers (along with Republican State Chairman Matt Strawn). When we've tried to book him as a Republican guest analyst on Channel 13's "Insiders" show, it seems like he is always going out of town on some hunting or fishing trip. Maybe it's all just bad timing on our part. Who knows? But I would be curious, if he is the pick, why he would want to get back into politics again. Perhaps, we will get to ask him Thursday. Or, perhaps, we won't, and he will be busy trying to figure out how his team can beat the Utah Blaze this weekend on the arena football field. And we will be asking someone else:)

If it isn't Lamberti, who is it? Former foe Rod Roberts? Former foe Bob Vander Plaats? State Chair Matt Strawn? Former fellow candidate Christian Fong? Defeated 3rd Congressional District candidate Jim Gibbons? Someone who hasn't been mentioned yet? General Stanley McCrystal? He's probably available now, right?

Radio Iowa's blogging guru and historian, (yeah, she's way too young to be a historian, but she sure seems to know her Iowa history:) O. Kay Henderson, has a nice piece on recent history of running mates.

Here's the release from Branstad's campaign. I'm, unfortunately, not finding many hints on it on the choice. Are you?

Branstad to announce lieutenant governor selection in statewide tour tomorrow

(URBANDALE) – The Governor Branstad 2010 Campaign today announced the Thursday, June 24, 2010 schedule for a statewide tour with former Gov. Terry Branstad and his selection for lieutenant governor. The lieutenant governor selection will be announced via our LieuTEXTant Governor Campaign prior to the tour. To sign up, please visit www.GovernorBranstad2010.com.

The following press conferences are open to the media and public:

Thursday, June 24, 2010

9 a.m. Gov. Branstad announces his lieutenant governor selection
Exec 1 Aviation
3700 Convenience Boulevard
Ankeny, IA

10:15 a.m. Gov. Branstad announces his lieutenant governor selection
Advanced Air Inc., Council Bluffs Airport
16801 McCandless Lane
Council Bluffs, IA

11:15 a.m. Gov. Branstad announces his lieutenant governor selection
Jet Sun Aviation
5815 Mitchell St.
Sioux City, IA

12:30 p.m. Gov. Branstad announces his lieutenant governor selection
North Iowa Air Service , 2nd Floor Conference Room
9184 2565th St.
Clear Lake, IA

2 p.m. Gov. Branstad announces his lieutenant governor selection
Dubuque Jet Center
11000 Airport Road
Dubuque, IA

3 p.m. Gov. Branstad announces his lieutenant governor selection
Carver Aero
9230 North Harrison St.
Davenport, IA

4 p.m. Gov. Branstad announces his lieutenant governor selection
Landmark Aviation
9430 Shepard Court SW
Cedar Rapids, IA