Branstad to Announce Plans for Governor

Four-time Iowa Governor Terry Branstad wants a fifth term in office. Sources close to Branstad tell me he will announce his plans for the future during a speech at Des Moines University Friday at noon. The news comes hardly as a surprise as this week Iowa Republican Party Executive Director Jeff Boeyink announced he was quitting the party to head up the 2010 Terry Branstad Committee, Branstad's organizational wing of his campaign efforts. Sandy Greiner, a former Republican lawmaker, led a group called "Draft Branstad". Yesterday, she sent out a message yesterday to supporters of her efforts that said the group would disband because of "mission accomplished". The group changed its efforts to NextGen PAC.

Branstad is currently the president of Des Moines University. Wednesday night, he lead a dinner at Prairie Meadows Racetracack & Casino in Altoona to benefit a minority scholarship fund for DMU students in health sciences. Branstad thanked the audience for what he said was a record night for the dinner. Approximately 600 people attended. Branstad did not discuss his plans to run for governor. A source close to him said he wanted the night to be about the scholarships and not his political future.

Behn for Governor: What about Branstad for Governor?

On the day Republican Jerry Behn, a state senator and farmer from Boone, announced he was running for governor, much of the talk still focused on the Republican who still hasn't announced his plans. Here's what Jerry Behn said when I asked how would it affect him if Terry Branstad got into the race:

"Not really at this point in time".

I talked to virtually every other candidate/"almost candidate"/candidate's campaign Tuesday to measure the Branstad factor. Would it affect the candidacy if Branstad runs?

Based on the conversations...I would characterize their responses this way:

Doesn't Matter:
State Rep. Chris Rants
Cedar Rapids businessman Christian Fong
Sioux City businessman Bob Vander Plaats

Maybe
Rep. Rod Roberts
Sen. Paul McKinley (both say they would evaluate whether Branstad was affecting their campaign after he entered the race)

???
Former GOP Chairman Mike Mahaffey--said hasn't made up mind whether to run yet
Former Sen. Jeff Lamberti did not return a call for comment

Anti-Branstad Fliers Appear on Des Moines Cars

So what person or what group is behind this? The line at the bottom says it's paid for by a group called "Iowans for Truth and Honest Government". I have yet to find anyone, Republican or Democrat, who has heard of this group. And I can't find it listed on the website of the Iowa Ethics & Campaign Disclosure Board.

Some neighbors who live near Des Moines Unversity got this flier on her car this morning and some of us also received one of these on our cars on the WHO-TV parking lot. To say it's an unflattering view of former Iowa Governor Terry Branstad is an understatement. (Sorry I can't get this flier bigger on here. You know my technical limitations. But you should be able to click on it to enlarge it. Hopefully!)