Branstad Up, Olson out, game over?

Cedar Rapids Gazette ^ | 17 December 2013 | Todd Dorman

[iowamark]

So, if you had December 17, 2013, in the “What Day Will Iowa’s race for Governor Effectively End?” pool, I’m calling winner, winner, chicken dinner.

Yes, I know it’s so premature. So early. Ten months is a lifetime in politics. And it’s going to seem like one for Democrats who hoped to tackle Terry, smash the ‘stache, etc.

First, two big ‘ol opinion polls came out, from The Register and Quinnipiac University, showing Republican Gov. Terry Branstad with a 58 percent job approval rating. In this age of American politics, when so many people loathe American politicians, that makes him Gov. Tom Hanks. Approaching Gov. Beyonce. And his trend lines are headed up.

Then, hours later, and two weeks after he announced the breakup of his marriage, the final shoe dropped on state Rep. Tyler Olson’s campaign for governor:

Thank you to everyone that reached out with words of encouragement and support the last two weeks. While focused on supporting my children through the transition in my personal life it is clear they need my full attention. It is time to end my campaign for Governor.

I will continue to focus on my family, finish my term as state representative, rejoin Paulson Electric and look for opportunities to serve my community as time allows.

Thank you to all the friends, supporters and volunteers that joined my campaign. I enjoyed every minute of it. I hope you still believe as I do that Iowa’s brightest days are ahead.

Best wishes for a peaceful and bright holiday season.

I’m not saying Olson. D-Cedar Rapids, would have won, either the nomination or the whole enchilada. But his generational counter argument to Branstad’s drive for an unprecedented 24 years in power, was, at least, an argument worth considering. It was something to build on, a rationale that might have led somewhere, with a little luck.

But his personal issues dashed all that. Relaunch and reinvention were unlikely.

So Olson’s decision to get out makes sense, given the personal challenges he and his family now face. It was no time to run for governor. And at age 37, there still might be other times, other campaigns.

Now what kind of race for governor are we left with?

Will all due respect to the skills and accomplishments of Sen. Jack Hatch, D-Des Moines, if the Branstad campaign could order up an opponent from central casting, it would be someone a lot like Hatch. A very liberal state lawmaker from Des Moines who has spent many, many years at the Statehouse, like Branstad.  The Quinnipiac poll shows Branstad leading Hatch 49-33, and 52-29 in The Register’s poll.

Never say never. But you can say unlikely. Very unlikely.

And, Godspeed to them, but Bob Krause, a former state lawmaker, and Paul Dahl, a bus driver from Webster City, don’t seem like likely candidates to stun a sitting governor.

But hey, maybe somebody else will jump in to the chasm, some Democrats are thinking, hopefully. A big name! Maybe that guy who parachuted from space is available.

Branstad is going to be re-elected, barring a lightning strike, no, make that a meteor strike. The state’s economy is good. Iowans are very comfortable with having TB in charge at a time when our politics and institutions have been jarringly unpredictable and not very dependable. He represents stability. And that, apparently, trumps any misgivings we might have about the length of his time in office. About half of my life, for heaven’s sake.

That said, there are some serious issues and problems in this state that should have gotten a good going over within the context of a real gubernatorial campaign. That’s probably not going to happen now. And that’s too bad, because being comfortable isn’t always what we need.

[Paul8148]

can there be a coattail affect in the Senate race there?

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

Sheesh, Branstad might as well be crowned Emperor considering how long he’s been Governor of Iowa.

[DIRTYSECRET]

Gopher?

[newgeezer]

The little sh*t fascist Olson had zero chance from the beginning. When the divorce came to light, he was finished, despite his public statements about the divorce being “friendly” etc. for the sake of the children. (If you can have a friendly divorce, why not REALLY do right by your children, and SAVE the marriage? Naaahh, that would be living a lie. Better off finding some fresh meat for self-gratification.)

Now, he finally drops out of the race and again brings up his children? What a crock. Pathetic little Tyler must think everyone is as gullible as the sycophants who insulated him from the real world during his charmed existence in Des Moines.

And the progressive navel-gazer Todd Dorman is totally bummed that his guy flamed out in their quest against the eeeeeeevilll Terry Branstad.

[JohnBovenmyer]

Branstad is going to end up the longest serving governor in US history. From any state. Either finishing the current, or the next, term gives him the record. Yet so far, IIRC, he’s only had both houses of the legislature for 2 (maybe 4?) years of that time. It really would be nice to see what he could do without the Democrats.