Iowa first lady: 2010 will be challenging for Democrats

Both parties already gearing up for elections

By MATT MILNER Courier staff writer

OTTUMWA — Mari Culver warned Wapello County Democrats on Monday that 2010 will be a difficult year for the party.

The elections are more than a year away, but Iowa is already well into the cycle. Republicans have a large slate of candidates from whom to choose in the race for governor and Democrats are shifting into campaign mode.

The top of the Iowa ticket is easier for Democrats, who know Gov. Chet Culver will run again. His wife’s stop in Ottumwa Monday was the campaign’s first foray into southeast Iowa. Being in office can also be a double-edged sword. Voters know who the candidate is, but opponents do as well.

Economics are already playing a role. Shortfalls led the governor to cut Iowa’s spending by 10 percent. The decision proved controversial when questions arose about cuts to public service and the governor’s own pledge to cut his salary by 10 percent.

Mari Culver did not predict defeat, but said Democrats will have to work hard just to maintain their hold on the Legislature and the governor’s mansion.

“They [Republicans] are going to run an aggressive campaign,” she said. “It will prove to be a bruising, bruising campaign.”

The biggest tactical advantage Democrats hold is that they don’t need a primary. The Culver campaign is trying to leverage that by getting supporters engaged now, instead of waiting. They met the 30 or so supporters in Ottumwa with campaign sign-up sheets to start building volunteer lists.

Culver’s audience swung between almost giddy enthusiasm at Democrats’ positions as defending office-holders and concern at the pace of actions in Des Moines and Washington, D.C. Sally Steffen, a longtime Wapello County Democrat, voiced frustration that Congressional Democrats are still wrangling over health care reform.

“If we’ve got the numbers, why won’t they pass the damn health bill?” she asked.

“The Democratic caucus is not in lockstep,” Culver responded.

Health care reform is not a state-level bill, but another audience member expressed concerns that splits similar to those at the national level could hurt state candidates. Don Shaffer said Democrats need to be cautious about attacking each other on the issue.

Shaffer was even more concerned about how he sees the debate over tax policy shaping up. He believes Republicans have been able to set the terms of the debate, leaving Democrats to defend bad positions.

Specifically, he wants Democrats to emphasize the need to raise taxes to cover social programs rather than make blanket promises that they won’t raise taxes on Iowans. The question to Shaffer is not whether, but where to raise taxes.

“You’ve got to raise taxes,” he insisted.

“I don’t agree with you, respectfully,” Culver responded. “I said we can’t raise taxes on hardworking Iowans.”

The discussion of tax policy also brought a criticism of former governor and likely candidate Terry Branstad. Most observers believe Branstad will formally enter the race soon and he has already formed an exploratory committee. Culver contrasted her husband’s move to cut the budget with tax hikes from Branstad’s terms in office.

Culver’s main focus, though, was on getting Democrats energized about the coming campaigns even if they are 13 months from election day.

“It’s not too early, is it?” she said.

It was a statement, not a question.

Matt Milner can be reached at (641) 683-5359 or via e-mail at mwmilner@mchsi.com