Reply #7: Seth - I agree with your analysis [View All]

[Debi]

Fallon was calm and poised and relaxed and informed - it was hard not to like him. He seemed like the most ready for the job.

But......Culver does still have an impressive war chest and I can't let that just go by the way-side. Chet came in #2 in this forum, but the overall Chet package I think it still #1. (On edit - I LOVED Chet's comments about early childhood education and about his kids - I think that was the most unrehearsed and realy part of his presentations. I can't fault the guy for falling back into campaign speech mode on his plans for Iowa's future - but the part about college and ECE seemed more important to him than anything else).

Blouin - hmmmm what can I say? He served in Congress (30 years ago) He was a teacher (40 years ago) he was head of IDED....like THAT's a plus right now AND he's the only candidate who was able to LOSE an ELECTION as an INCUMBENT in a NON-REDISTRICTING year (we didn't want him representing us in D.C. why the HELL would we want him Governing us here at home???? Culver & Fallon have NEVER LOST an ELECTION MIKE!!! And he just barely held his temper when Chet & Ed disagreed w/him (and what the hell? He had to read his closing comments? Like he doesn't know by NOW why he wants to be our Governor?) Also His swipe at Culver about getting a waiver to open up the HAWK-I program - SO WHAT that Bush is president NOW - it's not going to be forever - hopefully when our new Governor is seated a newly Democratic controlled Congress will be in place to make sure Iowa can expand the program. I felt like Blouin was living in the dark ages attitude of "well, this is the way it's always been so this is the way it will stay" what, Mike like women's rights? Grrrrr.

And Sal! Man, I fear that Sal may have had the best ideas of the campaign - I just cannot understand a word the man says. I subconsciously tuned him out (which is a sad commentary on me, because I TRY to listen to everyone's ideas). I'm glad he was included, though. He got on the ballot and deserves the same time and press treatment as the other candidates.

I say

Fallon #1 (put overall Chet has the #1 campaign)
Culver #2
Blouin #3 (and only because I could not understand all Mohammad said)
Sal #4

BTW - did Blouin mention his running-mate EVER? I thought she was his ticket to Democratic unity? What happened w/that???