Do I agree with everything the governor does? No. But break down the things he has accomplished with education, healthcare and economic growth, and in a politically competitive state that has had wide Republican influence during his terms, and no one could argue that he's been out cutting ribbons. |
He was a terrific spokesman. He really put himself out on the line talking about these problems. |
His name hasn't surfaced so often and he wasn't a finalist as a vice presidential candidate because he isn't up to the task. But I think that it's a bridge too far. There's too much to do. It's too early. |
I think he does sort of have this patina of independence. But I don't think he is all that independent from the White House. |
I think Iowa has lost a visionary -- a brilliant mind -- a gregarious, friendly guy - a great Democrat. I think it's a tremendous loss for Iowa. |
It feels real good. I've wanted to be on this team since I was five years old. I've worked hard and I don't get nervous out there. I know I can play so I just go out and play like I always have. This team is great, I love em. |
It just takes a while to log all those votes. We want to be sure that it's correct. |
It struck me that Chuck Grassley was like a guy with a bucket of water who runs up to a burning house only to run past it and throw a bucket of water on a house a block down because it might catch fire in 40 or 50 years. |
Needless to say, in some of these districts it's extremely competitive . . . and it's hard to know what to do. What do you do, call these people again to apologize? |
People are going to be focusing on Jim Nussle's record in Congress and whether his record on budget deficits, tax cuts and Medicare cuts and Medicaid reflect Iowa's attitudes and positions on those issues. That's really what's going to decide this election, not the lieutenant governor. |
She's brought Iowa over to her place. |
There's a larger field of candidates generating more interest among more voters. And there's more overall interest in the campaign than ever before, based on our total antipathy to the Bush administration. We've never had organizations on the ground like this. |
There's a larger field of candidates generating more interest among more voters. We've never had organizations on the ground like this. |
This is the earliest and most intensive campaigning I've seen, and it's primarily because the race on both sides is so wide open. No one wants to be the last to get started. |