Which repug would you like to see

[Hardrada]

Running for governor? Vander Plaats? Sukup? Gross? Nussle? In the sense of which one would be the easiest to defeat? Not doing a poll-just need some shared thoughts on this.

[Bluzmann57]

1. Hmmm...interesting question

Gross got his ass kicked last time, Sukup has little name recognition, Vander Plaats is an arch conservative who may not carry this side of the state, at least not Scott, Clinton and Dubuque Counties, and Nussle could very well win and win big because he has name recognition and appeals to the people west and south of Des Moines. So out those four, my choice would be Gross I think. Now a question for you, who will make a stronger Democratic candidate? I lean toward Culver, but if Tom Miller decides to make a run, I probably would support him. Vilsack most likely won't seek a third term, so it should be wide open on both sides.

[Hardrada]

2. Culver

But I wish Christie Vilsack would run!

[Hardrada]

3. So then Nussle is the one

to defeat in the primary. So we should work for Gross or Vander Plaats. I cross over and vote in repug primaries and other Dems should do so too. We have to act preemptively against Nussle and see he is not the candidate.

[Rambis]

4. Drawn and quartered?

I don't have enough time to type my list.

[terryg11]

5. Nussle neeeds to run

because I think he's beatable and it then also gets him out of the House of REps. I can't stand the guy, toes the party line as bad as anyone out there.

[Hobarticus]

8. Nussle's certainly giving us enough rope....

"Tax, Spending Cuts Packaged
Congressional Panels Offer Budget Blueprints Today

By Shailagh Murray and Jonathan Weisman
The House and Senate Budget committees will unveil fiscal blueprints today that pave the way for additional tax reductions while seeking billions in spending cuts that target Medicaid, farm assistance, major weapons systems and just about every other domestic program. "


http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A18244-2005Mar...

[Debi]

6. The farther right the better.

Nussle worries me because he appears to be Mr. Middle of the Road when he in fact is far right. He's gotten away with it for almost 15 years now.

For some reason he has great name ID in the state and his media team will make him look the way the voter wants him to look. (policy wise).

Having Vanderplats or Gross beat him in the primary would be fine by me. Then he's out of the House and out of the Governor's race!

Even though Iowa (barely) went Bush I hope we've learned our lesson in eastern Iowa and turn out in 2006 - How could we let western Iowa dictate to us who our president should be? :grr:

[Hardrada]

7. It looks like it will be Nussle/VanderPlaats in the GOP primary

Work for V., even donate $$ since Nussle has a huge amount of money. V. must run ads then Nussle will respond with the vicious ads he always ALWAYS uses the last few weeks of a campaign when he thinks things are close. Nussle has a lot of money stored up since the Dems in my district ran an uninspiring talentless old party hack last time around so Nussle needed almost no ads to beat that guy. Nussle is a smiling villain. Pleasant and genial to view but a merciless cut-throat on early every issue you can imagine when you examine his record.

[kariatari]

9. I think you're underestimating Vander Plaats

Yeah, he's a hardcore concervative (having roots sioux county, you kind of have to be...), but he's an genuinely likeable guy. I've heard him speak several times at my former high school, and each time I was extremely impressed with the way he engaged his audience. I mention this becuase I think that a part of the reason why Bush carried Iowa is because people perceived him to be more likeable than Kerry. That said, I think this guy will be tougher to beat than you think.

[Hardrada]

10. So pit him against Nussle in the primary

And it will hopefully be like the famous fight between the Gingham Dog and the Calico Cat. But, my, the Democrats are certainly keeping low profiles now.

[Counciltucky]

11. I've heard a rumor Steve King will run...

I hope that's true, because he's a HARD-LINE conservative. He's nuts, and I'm not exaggerating when I say that. Plus, that means I'd get a new representative in Congress.

That said, Nussle has a decent chance and will probably get the nod for the GOP.

I wish Gov. Vilsack would run again in 06 and then challenge Grassley in 10. That said, it looks like it'll either be Culver or Gronstal getting the Dem nod.