Gov. hopefuls focus on differences

DES MOINES (AP) — Three months before the June 8 primary, Republican candidates for governor seem to be stressing their differences as they fight for the right to oppose Democratic Gov. Chet Culver in November.

All the candidates are conservative, but the question is whether Iowa Republicans will get behind Bob Vander Plaats or Rep. Rod Roberts, who stress their social and religious beliefs, or former Gov. Terry Branstad, who is viewed as more moderate.

“I think it is a fight for the soul of the Republican Party,” said Drake University political science professor Dennis Goldford. “Is it a traditional business conservative party, or is it more a social and religious conservative party?”

The differences were clear at a meeting last week at a suburban Des Moines church before the Iowa Christian Alliance, a powerful group in Republican politics.

“We can win on Nov. 2,” Vander Plaats told the crowd of about 500 people. “We no longer have to compromise in order to win and to lead. Leadership is about core convictions.”

That was a shot at Branstad, who served four terms as governor. During most of that time the Legislature was controlled by Democrats, and Branstad tried to work with legislative leaders and moderates within his own party.

Later, Vander Plaats made it clear that his running mate would agree with his conservative views.

“My lieutenant governor will share my core convictions,” Vander Plaats said.

Left unsaid was that Branstad's lieutenant governor was Joy Corning, who recently has been outspoken in her support for same-sex marriage rights.

For his part, Branstad told the conservative activists that he's proud of his record.

“I want to remind you that we've worked together on a lot of things,” Branstad said, pointing to measures requiring parents be notified when a minor child seeks an abortion.

He also reminded them he was the governor who signed into law a ban on gay marriage that the Iowa Supreme Court overturned last year.

“Since I left office, we've made no progress on the pro-life issue,” said Branstad. “I was proud to be the governor who signed the Iowa Defense of Marriage Act.”

Unlike Branstad, however, Vander Plaats has repeatedly promised to sign an executive order on his first day in office that would reverse the Iowa Supreme Court's ruling. Others have said such a move would be illegal.

“I've been referred to all around the state as the pro-family candidate,” said Vander Plaats.

Adding to the mix is Roberts, a lesser-known candidate from Carroll who points to his 20 years of work raising money for churches.

With his conservative church background, Roberts said that in his first year in office, he would force the Legislature to refer to voters a constitutional amendment overturning the Iowa Supreme Court ruling.

“My first year in office will see the Legislature vote on it,” said Roberts. “Iowans deserve a whole lot more than they are getting out of their current governor.”

The race could grow even sharper in the coming months, especially during a series of three debates, beginning April 7 in Sioux City.

Although polls have shown Culver could be in trouble, Republicans also may have to deal with divisions.

Leaders of the conservative Iowa Family Policy Center have said they'll sit out the race if Branstad is the nominee, arguing that little progress was made on social issues during his 16 years as governor.

With Democrats holding a 100,000-vote edge in registered voters in the state, Republicans can hardly withstand the loss of any segment of the party.

Vander Plaats, who is making his third run for the GOP nomination for governor, has declined to answer questions about whether he'd make a third-party run if he wasn't the Republicans' choice. He said he's focused on winning the primary.

Questioned about the candidate's intentions, aide Eric Woolson said Vander Plaats has maintained that he wouldn't expect to be automatically endorsed by the others if he wins, and he won't issue a blanket endorsement of the others should he lose.

“It would be presumptuous after a rough and tumble primary that Governor Branstad or Rod Roberts would automatically endorse Bob,” Woolson said. “You have to earn the endorsement, and the same goes for Bob.”

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