Leaked Culver book shows [Iowa] economic woes

A briefing book for Iowa Governor Chet Culver -- obtained by POLITICO and posted here -- illustrates the depth of the challenges facing him and other incumbents in a down economy, and his attempts to salvage a second term with a focus on jobs.

The 86-page briefing book is a detailed guide for Culver to the 20 stops on the statewide tour announcing his reelection this week, and its loss is an unusual political slip. Its most striking feature is a reminder, stop by stop, of the reason Culver is often viewed as the underdog: The state's rising unemployment.

Culver's briefing for each county includes two numbers: The amount the state has spent through the "I-JOBS" program of state spending, and the change in unemployment since March of 2009.

The numbers are uniformly grim: In Story County, I-JOBS spent $40 million, while unemployment climbed to 5.4% from 4%. In Marshall County, the state spent $24 million and watched unemployment rise to 8.5% from 7.2%.In Johnson County, the state spent $155 million while unemployment rose to 4.8% from 3.7%.

"Jobs are a very central issue in the campaign and in the record going forward," Culver campaign manager Donn Stanley said. "Like the entire country – we’ve been hit with the effects of the Bush recession and the Wall Street problems."

The briefing book also offers a glimpse at the campaign trail from the point of view of the candidate, with its number repetition and detailed instructions from handlers.

One instruction reminds Culver of a campaign stop with Vice President Joe Biden, to wear a "suit and tie for VPOTUS event; Open collar optional for remainder of day."

The briefing book also includes details and lodging for Culver's detail of state troopers, for whom Stanley said the campaign is reimbursing the state.

http://gazetteonline.com/blogs/24-hour-dorman/2010/05/20/culver-briefing-book-leaked
“”Politico has posted a copy of a confidential campaign briefing book prepared for Gov. Chet Culver’s weeklong re-election tour.

You can find the post and a link to a pdf of the book here.

What else can go wrong for this Big Lug of ours?

Republicans are already crowing about data in the book showing how much I-JOBS bucks the Culver administration has pumped into counties on the tour alongside gloomy rising unemployment numbers. It’s ready made fodder for the Republican argument that his big, bonded stimulus package isn’t doing much stimulating.

I’m sure Culver’s people will point out that a lot of the money has been allocated but not spent. Millions have been pledged to flood-related Cedar Rapids projects, for example, that are just getting underway. Still, as a response to a downturn, I-JOBS has been slow-acting medicine. And that’s a problem for Culver.

Actually, it is good to know that Culver is getting real numbers from his staff, even if they’re not rosy. At least we know they’re not creating a sugar-coated Lug bubble around the guv.

I glanced through the book. If you’re a political geek like me, you’ll enjoy a rare glimpse into all the logistics and stagecraft that go into these events. Few details are left to chance. Politico’s Ben Smith notes one instruction to Culver to make sure and wear a tie when he appeared with the vice president in Cedar Rapids.

The red-necktied governor complied.””

If Culver is the son of former Senator Culver, I can see why he is a failure. His father was one of the biggest leftists to come out of the MidWest.

“Bush’s recession”? It was Obama’s money (technically ours) that failed to stop unemployment by providing jobs. It’s OBAMA’S UNEMPLOYMENT DEPRESSION, you stupid Dems.

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