Setting Up The Victory Party
Jun 08, 2010
Please join us for Bob's Victory Party tonight beginning at 7:30 p.m. at the Embassy Suites in Downtown Des Moines at 101 East Locust, Des Moines in Salons D and E.
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Setting Up The Victory Party
Polls Close at 9
Des Moines Headquarters Volunteers
Report from the Road
TV Ad
Voting in Sioux City Photos
Chuck Norris Approved
Victory Party
Election Day Video
Four Generations for Bob
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Virtual Yard Sign
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Can-Do Conservtive Stumps for Vander Plaats
So, by now, many of you are familiar with Brian Donegan, the founder and front man of the Can-Do Conservatives. For those of you who aren’t, here’s a quick background. Brian is a legally blind and disabled guy from Georgia. As a young man, he had a passion for becoming a radio DJ when he was told that his disabilities would prevent him from breaking into the industry professionally. Devastated, Brian pretty much gave a proverbial middle finger to everyone who ever told him he “couldn’t” by stepping up and doing everything he possibly could, and probably more thanks to divine intervention, to make a difference and give disabled Americans a voice in Republican politics.
Right now, this inspirational young conservative is ground pounding on behalf of Gubernatorial candidate Bob Vander Plaats in Iowa. I originally planned on going out there with him, but I couldn’t swing it financially and health and car problems would have made the trip a disaster anyway. But I spoke with Brian yesterday and he officially made me the most jealous person on earth. Anyway, he called me at about 3pm and detailed his day so far. He had already been to five cities canvassing. What’s so impressive about this is that he has a disability that makes this excruciatingly painful. Yet the man keeps going.
Dubuque Tea Party Endorses Vander Plaats
Best Candidate to Defeat Chet Culver
Vander Plaats, Chuck Norris, Campaign in Hinton
Republican Gubernatorial candidate Bob Vander Plaats made a stop in Hinton, Iowa tonight– and he didn’t come alone.
People packed the gym at Hinton High School to catch a glimpse of one of Vander Plaats’ biggest supporters, Chuck Norris.
Norris, who has not endorsed a single candidate since he backed Mike Huckabee during his presidential campaign in 2008– announced he would show his support for Vander Plaats last Friday.
He says he doesn’t leave his ranch in Texas for just anyone.
Des Moines Tea Party Says Yes to Bob!
Video from Davenport Chuck Norris Rally
Chuck Norris Rally in Davenport Photos
TV Tough Guy in QC, Throws Muscle Behind Candidate
DAVENPORT, Iowa - With four days until the Iowa primary, a Hollywood tough man came to the Quad Cities to throw his muscle behind a candidate for governor. News 8’s Chris Williams shows why voters weren’t the only ones looking forward to the campaign stop.
Chuck Norris became a political name during the last presidential race. Many credit his support of Republican Mike Huckabee for his win in the Iowa Caucus. Today, Norris campaigned for Bob Vander Plaats who is in a race for the Republican Gubernatorial nomination.
“I called Bob, you know, and asked him how he’s doing,” said Norris, “and he said we’re having a struggle here. So I said, if I can do anything to help.
I asked Vander Plaats, “Why chuck? Why now?”
Vander Plaats: Norris Endorsement, Rally Brings ‘Energy, Enthusiasm’
CEDAR RAPIDS – Actor, martial arts champion and conservative commentator Chuck Norris isn’t sure what his endorsement of Bob Vander Plaats is worth.
However, there’s no uncertainty in the mind of Vander Plaats, one of three candidates for the Republican nomination for governor, that the endorsement and five-city tour with Norris will bring, “energy, enthusiasm and exposure” to his campaign just at a critical time – four days before the June 8 primary election.
His assessment was spot-on when Norris spoke to loud and enthusiastic crowd of about 300 at Kirkwood Community College in Cedar Rapids June 4.
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Immigration Question
Dobson Backs Vander Plaats
Evangelical leader James Dobson endorsed activist Bob Vander Plaats for governor of Iowa on Thursday, reinforcing the Republican candidate’s Christian conservative credentials days before the GOP primary Tuesday.
Dobson highlighted Vander Plaats’s opposition to gay marriage in a statement announcing his support: “Bob has fought tirelessly for conservative family values. He is passionately pro-life and supports the exclusivity of marriage between one man and one woman. Vander Plaats believes that all voters, not just one liberal court, should decide what the definition of marriage should be.”
Vander Plaats is an underdog in Tuesday’s election, trailing former four-term Gov. Terry Branstad in public polls of the race. A Public Policy Polling survey released this week showed Branstad ahead by 15 percentage points.
Read more: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0610/38084.html#ixzz0pp3ZTgA1
Folksy Bob Vander Plaats Speaks Candidly About His Beliefs
The Rev. Michael Mudlaff climbs up on a kitchen chair and quiets the crowd of 50 squeezing into his living room and kitchen in Clive on a recent spring evening.
Many are members of Mudlaff’s church, Westkirk Presbyterian in Urbandale, and believe Iowa needs a leader to take a strong stand against same-sex marriage.
The man they have come to see, Republican governor candidate Bob Vander Plaats, 47, stands near a table filled with plates of strawberry shortcake.
Osceola Community Leader Endorsements
As members of the Osceola community, we the undersigned have made our choice for governor of Iowa: Bob Vander Plaats!
We see a man of real integrity, character and strong morals. He is the only candidate of either party who will shrink the size of government, reduce taxes and stand up to the federal government and an out of control court.
Vander Plaats stands for the sanctity of human life, the dignity of marriage as a union of husband and wife, and the freedom of conscience and religion. As governor, Bob Vander Plaats will be a voice of the people, for the people; not the political establishment.
We urge you to join us, and on June 8 give him his voice to lead Iowa into a new era with your vote. We are!
Sheldon and Claudette Lorenson, John Heilman, Kevin and Leslie Dorlund, Bill and Marilyn Schneck, Terry and Danelle Taylor, Scott and Malane McLin and Dana Hembry, Osceola
Dr. James Dobson Endorses Vander Plaats
Dr. James Dobson Endorses Vander Plaats
DES MOINES—James C. Dobson, Ph.D., author and host of a nationally syndicated radio program, today endorsed Republican candidate Bob Vander Plaats in his race for Iowa’s next governor.
Speaking as a private individual, Dobson said today, “Bob has fought tirelessly for conservative family values. He is passionately pro-life and supports the exclusivity of marriage between one man and one woman. Vander Plaats believes that all voters, not just one liberal court, should decide what the definition of marriage should be. I’m proud to join Gov. Mike Huckabee, Chuck Norris, the Iowa Family PAC, David Barton, Michael Farris and the president of the Iowa/Nebraska Chapter of the NAACP in urging the citizens of Iowa to vote for Bob Vander Plaats for governor next Tuesday.”
Dobson further stated, “Bob believes the Republican Party should stand for something beyond simply winning elections and holding office. He defends the principles and issues that affect the very fabric of our society—and I’m confident he’ll base his leadership in the state of Iowa on those convictions.”
Vander Plaats: I Offer “Bold, Fresh Leadership”
SIOUX CITY, Iowa (KTIV) - Next week, Iowa voters will help narrow the very crowded Republican field for governor.
Three men… Terry Branstad, Rod Roberts and Bob Vander Plaats… want your vote. In fact, Vander Plaats squeezed two northwest Iowa stops into his final week of campaigning… including this appearance at Luciano’s Restaurant, in Sioux City, Tuesday.
Vander Plaats knows the race is close, but he believes that voters will send him on to the November general election. Bob Vander Plaats, (R) Candidate for Governor says “People are just plain tired of politics as usual. They want fresh, bold leadership today. That’s the type of leadership we’re offering them.”
Vander Plaats will be back in northwest Iowa, on Saturday night. He’ll take the stage with supporter—and actor—Chuck Norris. That’s at Hinton High School, in Hinton, Iowa, at 7:00pm.
Bob Vander Plaats Visits Ottumwa
OTTUMWA, IOWA—On Tuesday evening, Republican gubernatorial candidate Bob Vander Plaats spoke at the Bridge View Center in Ottumwa and greeted supporters.
In a recent interview, Lieutenant Governor Patty Judge (D-Iowa) told KTVO that the state budget is balanced, and has been balanced every day of the Culver Administration.
Vander Plaats responded that Iowa is in “financial trouble,” and that the current administration kicked a “$1 billion structural deficit down the road one more year.”
Letter to the Editor: Support Vander Plaats
To the editor:
Iowa conservatives take note. A person’s acquaintances and actions tell more about a person than simple lip service. A few points to ponder:
Terry Branstad’s former lieutenant governor, Joy Corning, holds a position with Planned Parenthood. Can Terry be a strong supporter of pro-life? Bob Vander Plaats has a strong pro-life stance from womb to tomb. Evidence of this is also proven and endorsed by David Barton and Iowa Family PAC.
Terry Branstad appointed two of the Iowa Supreme Court Justices that allowed same sex marriage in Iowa. Terry refuses to take a strong stand on defending traditional marriage. Bob Vander Plaats has promised to put a halt to same sex marriage on the first day in office. He would allow proper channels to be followed in letting the people of Iowa and elected representatives determine the law in Iowa.
Terry Branstad increased Iowa’s budget 230 percent. Did Iowa’s population increase 230 percent during that period. Bob Vander Plaats vows to cut the budget and taxes.
Chuck Norris Rallies
Letter to the Editor
From Brian Rohrig
Bob Vander Plaats is my choice for governor because he is the only candidate in either party who will shrink government, reduce taxes, stand up to the federal government and the courts.
He is the only candidate in either party who will do something about illegal immigration by working to enact an Arizona-type law here that allows local and state authorities to detain illegal immigrants.
I’m tired of candidates who say one thing to get our votes and do another thing once they get into office. Bob Vander Plaats is the only candidate we can trust to do what he says he’ll do.
Please vote for Vander Plaats in the upcoming primary June 8.
7 Days
Memorial Day
Vander Plaats: Timing key for his candidacy
WATERLOO - In his third bid for the governor’s seat, Sioux City businessman Bob Vander Plaats believes the electoral environment this year is “tailor-made” for his candidacy.
Vander Plaats said he is expecting a surge prior to the June 8 Republican primary vote that will put him ahead of former Gov. Terry Branstad and state Rep. Rod Roberts, who also are vying for the nomination.
“I believe as soon as the people, especially in the Republican primary and the Republican primary voters, as soon as they get the scent that Vander Plaats can push through in the primary, we’re going to push through and push through in a big way,” he said Friday during a meeting with The Courier’s editorial board.
Vander Plaats Runs For Gov As Outsider
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) ― In his third run for Iowa governor, Bob Vander Plaats has campaigned for the June 8 primary as the true outsider who could ride a wave of anti-incumbent anger to victory in November.
Some question whether a man who has spent much of the last decade running for governor can legitimately portray himself as an outsider, but Vander Plaats pointed to the support he received when he spoke at a tea party rally at the Statehouse last year.
And while he’s run for office, he’s never been elected. That’s a contrast with his two opponents, four-term former Gov. Terry Branstad and five-term state Rep. Rod Roberts.
Who Will Win Battle for GOP Soul?
Iowa Republicans on June 8 will choose not only a nominee for governor but also a de facto head of the party.
Their choice will send a message about the direction they seek for their party: Should it be a big-tent organization that reaches out to independents and Democrats, or a base-pleasing model of social conservative purity? The bigger question won’t be answered until Nov. 2: Will adherents of each vision coalesce around a common candidate - or stay home?
Many high-ranking Republicans would rather not talk about this battle for the soul of the Iowa GOP. They insist Republicans will support their nominee, whether it’s presumed front-runner former Gov. Terry Branstad, or his top challenger, social conservative darling Bob Vander Plaats, and that all this is the healthy airing of views during a primary.
Video of the Final GOP Debate
Polk County GOP Spring Dinner
Vander Plaats Sees Need for Action
Bob Vander Plaats’ almost decade-long pursuit of the governorship is due in part to one of his competitors.
When former Gov. Terry Branstad appointed Vander Plaats to serve on the Advisory Council for Brain Injuries during his last term, Vander Plaats got a taste of the inner workings of government, and he didn’t like what he saw, he said recently.
As part of the council, Vander Plaats proposed changes the state could make to better serve people with disabilities. The plan, in his mind, was smart and economically sound, but it went nowhere.
New TV Ad: “Right Thing To Do”
Vander Plaats Releases Second TV Ad, Links Branstad and Culver on Immigration Issue
DES MOINES – The campaign of Republican gubernatorial candidate Bob Vander Plaats released a second television ad today, noting the Sioux City businessman is the only candidate in the race to favor Arizona’s strict anti-illegal immigration issue.
In the 30-second ad entitled, “Right Thing to Do”, Vander Plaats states, “Chet Culver and Terry Branstad want to wait for the federal government to do something about illegal immigration. We’ve waited long enough. I’m tired of relying on the federal government and getting no results. As governor, I’ll give our state and local law enforcement the authority to enforce immigration laws. It’s not just common sense; it’s the right thing to do.”
The ad, which begins airing statewide today, can also be seen at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RFV5_MA2t58. The campaign’s first spot, which focuses on Vander Plaats’ economic development strategy, will continue to air throughout the state.
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online
Chuck Norris Rally E-Tickets
Vander Plaats Announces Addition of June 5 Northwest Iowa Stop to Chuck Norris Tour
DES MOINES – Internationally known actor and martial arts champion Chuck Norris will appear in Hinton near Sioux City on Saturday June 5 to show his support for Republican gubernatorial candidate Bob Vander Plaats, the campaign announced today.
Norris and his wife, Gena, will appear with Vander Plaats at 7:00 p.m. rally at Hinton High School, 315 W. Grand Ave, that is free and open to the public. Two of Bob and Darla Vander Plaats’ four sons graduated from Hinton High School and a third son currently attends the district’s middle school.
“I can’t begin to describe how thrilled I am that Chuck Norris would agree to add a fifth event to his visit to give northwest Iowans a chance to see a real American hero,” Vander Plaats said. “And, I can imagine a more perfect place to be than at a school that has been so special to our family over the years.”
Chuck Norris Headed to Hinton for Vander Plaats
Bob Vander Plaats has been sympatico with 2008 presidential candidate Mike Huckabee for a few years. Vander Plaats headed the Iowans on Team Huckabee before he won the January 2008 presidential caucus, and they both have tied in with rugged actor Chuck Norris too. Norris held a fundraiser for Vander Plaats down in Texas, and now he’ll come north to fight for Vander Plaats in the final days before the important June 8 primary to decide the Republican Party 2010 gubernatorial pick.
Norris will hit some major Iowa metros on his June 4 and 5 swing, with Davenport, Des Moines, Cedar Rapids and Council Bluffs as stops. He’ll also head 10 miles north of Sioux City to the town of Hinton. Vander Plaats lives in rural Sioux City just south of Hinton, and that’s where his sons go to school. Hinton has a population of 808, which is probably also the number of roundhouses Norris doled out in an average episode of “Walker, Texas Ranger.”
That Texas reference in the first paragraph reminds me how Huckabee once had a wry ad that concerned what he saw as the best border security option. The answer to the problem: “Two words — Chuck Norris,” Huckabee said.
Vander Plaats Pitches New Plan to Sioux City Business Leaders
A Siouxland candidate for Iowa governor pitches what he calls better strategies to local leaders. Republican Bob Vander Plaats spoke to the Sioux City Business Leaders Club Wednesday about turning things around for entrepreneurs in Iowa.
Iowa ranks 49th in the country for new business start-ups and the candidate hopes new policies will grow the state’s economy.
“We’ve had governor after governor, politician after politician, politics as usual, say we’re going to open up the state for business. The fact is that it hasn’t happened. I think they want real life leadership, real life experience, real life results today. That’s why I think we’ll be successful in 13 days from today and why we’ll be successful on November 2nd. We look forward to this race in a big way,” said Vander Plaats.”
Vander Plaats Sees Late Surge Overtaking Branstad
Thirteen days.
That’s all that’s left for Sioux City business consultant Rob Vander Plaats or state Rep. Rod Roberts of Carroll to upset former Gov. Terry Branstad in the June 8 primary election to determine the Republican candidate to oppose Gov. Chet Culver this fall.
While Branstad has raised more money, and polls show a larger margin over Culver, Vander Plaats says recent momentum in public opinion was evident after last week’s primary debate at Iowa Public Television studios.
Virtual Yard Sign
Scheuermann: From Hardcourt to Campaign Trail
FARMINGTON –– A Van Buren County chiropractor has unique ties with Republican gubernatorial candidate Bob Vander Plaats of Sioux City.
Dr. Troy Scheuermann played basketball for Vander Plaats when Vander Plaats was the head boys basketball coach and a teacher at Jefferson High School in west central Iowa in the late 1980s.
“He was a wonderful role model. He gave me a chance to prove myself,” Scheuermann said. “He made us work hard and expected a lot out of us. He was fun to be around and always had a positive outlook. He’d have us over to his house the night before the game.”
Two Weeks to Go
First TV Ad
Gubernatorial Race a Study in Contrast
DES MOINES - Picture a graying Goliath returning to the political battlefield to face a pair of would-be Davids and you’ve pretty much summed up Iowa Republicans’ three-way fight for governor this year.
Terry Branstad, 63, who was both the state’s youngest and longest-serving chief executive as Iowa’s 39th governor, is out to make history again in 2010 with a comeback bid that could make him only the second governor ever to return to the office after a 12-year hiatus.
Standing in his way are two northwest Iowa Republicans - five-term state Rep. Rod Roberts, 52, of Carroll, making his first foray into gubernatorial politics, and Bob Vander Plaats, 47, a Sioux City businessman hoping to capitalize on anti-incumbent sentiment in his third try to become the GOP nominee.
Should Taxpayers Foot the Bill for Preschool?
Michelle Pender, a teacher, sees universal public preschool as a weight off the backs of middle-class Iowa parents who want a good start for their children but cannot afford tuition. Craig Hoeman sees a burden on taxpayers and the death knell for private preschools that are forced to compete with public schools.
Hoeman and his wife, Jan, had hoped to sell Jan’s Urbandale preschool when she retired last year. Instead, they closed it after potential buyers backed out.
“They were afraid the state was going to take over the preschool business,” Craig Hoeman said. “It cost us a lot of money.”
Leading Conservative Bill Salier Endorses Vander Plaats
Leading Conservative Bill Salier Endorses Vander Plaats
WEST DES MOINES, Iowa—Bill Salier, a staunch pro-life, small-government conservative and co-founder of the group Everyday America, today announced his support for Republican gubernatorial candidate Bob Vander Plaats.
“Bob Vander Plaats is the only candidate in the governor’s race who stands for true conservative values,” Salier said during a Vander Plaats campaign rally at Crossroads Park. “He understands that our freedoms depend on the checks and balances that our Founding Fathers so wisely installed into our system of governance. He’ll be a governor who stands up for what is right and stands strong in defense of our rights.”
A former Marine who completed his tour of duty in Somalia, Salier shook up the state’s political scene when his grassroots campaign for the GOP’s 2002 U.S. Senate nomination garnered 42 percent of the vote against then-Congressman Greg Ganske. Salier served as the Iowa state chairman of then-Colorado Congressman Tom Tancredo’s 2008 presidential campaign. A graduate of Iowa State University, Salier and his wife Karla operate the family farm near Nora Springs.
Vander Plaats Releases TV Commercial Featuring Economic Development Strategy
DES MOINES – The campaign of Republican gubernatorial candidate Bob Vander Plaats today said it will begin airing a television commercial on Monday featuring his economic development strategy.
“The 30-second spot goes up on Monday morning across the state and we’ll be on the air through Primary Day. It will put Bob Vander Plaats’ positive message before Iowans just as the balance of GOP voters are sharply focused on the race and making their decision about who will represent the party against Chet Culver in the fall,” said Eric Woolson, Vander Plaats’ campaign manager. “The ad underscores the fact that Bob Vander Plaats is offering the most comprehensive economic development strategy of any candidate in the race.”
The ad, entitled “Start-Up Capital of the World,” can be seen at the link http://teamvp2010.com/blog/first_tv_ad/.
The Des Moines Register Republican Debate
Vander Plaats Calls Out Branstad On Record of Spending, Taxes During Final GOP Gubernatorial Debate
Vander Plaats Calls Out Branstad On Record of Spending, Taxes During Final GOP Gubernatorial Debate
DES MOINES – Sioux City businessman Bob Vander Plaats pressed former Gov. Terry Branstad on his fiscal record while in office during the third and final debate Republican gubernatorial primary today.
After Branstad claimed to be a fiscal conservative who cut taxes by $124 million, Vander Plaats noted that the state budget more than doubled from $1.9 billion to $4.5 billion during Branstad’s time in office.
“Former State Auditor Dick Johnson said you kept two sets of books. You increased the budget $1.2 billion more than the inflation rate,” Vander Plaats said during the debate sponsored by Iowa Public Television and The Des Moines Register. “How can Iowans trust you with their wallets again?
Iowa GOP Governor Candidates Clash in Final Debate
JOHNSTON, Iowa - The three Republican candidates for governor tangled over taxes and spending Thursday in their final debate, with businessman Bob Vander Plaats trying to put Terry Branstad on the defensive for his 16-year record as governor.
Less than three weeks before the June 8 primary, Vander Plaats repeatedly criticized Branstad’s four-term tenure. Vander Plaats noted that Branstad approved two sales tax increases and a gas tax hike, and he argued that state government spending more than doubled while Branstad was governor.
“Why should Iowans trust you with their wallet again?” Vander Plaats asked.
Final GOP Debate
Chuck Norris is Coming to Iowa!
Vander Plaats Talks Local Issues
FORT MADISON — Supporters of Bob Vander Plaats displayed for the Republican gubernatorial candidate one of his very own platforms: All politics is local.
During a pizza and politics event Tuesday at a Fort Madison Pizza Hut, Vander Plaats said he would like to see local control returned to community school boards, instead of established state bureaucracy.
The crowd responded by talking about their own local school issues, before jumping to local prison issues.
Campaign Raises $284,383 Since January, Has $274,613 for Stretch Run to Primary Day
DES MOINES – The campaign of Republican gubernatorial candidate Bob Vander Plaats today submitted its financial disclosure report to the Iowa Ethics and Campaign Disclosure Board, showing it raised $284,383 between January 1 and May 14 and had $247,613 cash on hand as the GOP primary enters the final stretch to the June 8 primary election.
“With our cash on hand and our continued strong fundraising efforts in May, our campaign will have the funds necessary to win on June 8,” Vander Plaats said. “We have the funding to have a significant advertising presence to get our message to Iowa Republicans as they are making their decision about our party’s nominee and its future.”
Vander Plaats Takes Aim at Culver Policies
Bob Vander Plaats, Republican gubernatorial candidate, took aim at a number of state policies, including early childhood education, during a campaign stop in Marshalltown Monday.
Although Vander Plaats, as a former educator, said he understands that the most formative years are the preschool years, he said the most influential teachers during that time are the parents. It is a time parents should take advantage of, Vander Plaats said, and he would work to create an economic environment in the state that allows one parent to stay at home.
“The schools are not designed to raise our children,” Vander Plaats said. “We’ve got years of evidence to suggest that we are bad at it if that’s the case. Schools were designed to educate our children.”
Vander Plaats Stops at Hamburg Inn
Claude Williams frequents the Hamburg Inn No. 2, but has previously made a point to avoid the politicians who have stopped by the iconic eatery over the years.
Williams made an exception to his rule Tuesday morning when he came out to the Hamburg to meet with Republican gubernatorial candidate Bob Vander Plaats. Williams said he has been impressed with Vander Plaats’ integrity, honesty and position on issues such as education and the sanctity of human life.
“We need some good people in office,” Williams said.
Vander Plaats: Is Branstad Saying He Was Wrong in 1990 and 1994?
Is Branstad Saying He Was Wrong in 1990, 1994 or Will His Lt. Governor Favor Big Tax Increases
MARSHALLTOWN – Former Gov. Terry Branstad’s attempt to capitalize on a recent health issue by saying the episode underscores the importance of selecting a conservative running mate “begs the question of why he didn’t do it when he had two opportunities and exactly what his definition of a conservative is in the first place,” Republican gubernatorial candidate Bob Vander Plaats said today.
Branstad was admitted to a Des Moines hospital on May 5 for a medical procedure to clear an artery that was 60 percent blocked near the site of a stent that was installed in 2000 after he experienced a heart attack. Branstad said in an interview published in the Des Moines Register on Saturday, “It’s very important, somewhat because of my age, that the person I choose as lieutenant governor … be someone I feel very confident shares my conservative fiscal and social philosophy.”
Vander Plaats said Iowans, including members of the media, should ask Branstad if he now believes his selection of then-state Sen. Joy Corning of Cedar Falls, as his 1990 running mate was a mistake.
Defending Gun Rights
Add a Yard Sign
Info on Eastern Iowa Chuck Norris Event for Bob Vander Plaats
Fayette County Republican Party
Action movie star Chuck Norris will be returning to eastern Iowa on Friday June 4th. Norris appeared in Oelwein in a campaign event for Mike Huckabee 1/2/2008.
This time Chuck will be campaigning for gubernatorial candidate Bob Vander Plaats.
Event will be in Cedar Rapids at 5:30pm Friday June 4th at the Kirkwood Center, 7725 Kirkwood Blvd SW. Prior to the free public appearance will be a $500 per couple fundraiser.
Reservations must be made no later than May 24. Contact Tim Dusenbery at tim.dusenbery@team vp2010.com or (515) 278-5183.
May 17 - Bob Vander Plaats in Marshalltown
Marshall County Iowa Republicans
Bob Vander Plaats will be in Marshalltown on Monday, May 17th at Noon. He will be hosting the event at the Pizza Ranch (map). Pizza and drinks will be provided.
Vote Absentee
Request your absentee ballot here: http://www.sos.state.ia.us/pdfs/absenteeballotapp.pdf
Mail the printed request form to your County Auditor. Find your County Auditor’s address here.
Vander Plaats Brandishes Non-Politician Record
CEDAR FALLS - The best candidate to face off against Gov. Chet Culver this fall is the one without a record in office, said a western Iowa Republican vying for his party’s nomination.
Sioux City businessman Bob Vander Plaats used his background of never holding an elected position to distance himself from his two opponents in the June 8 GOP primary during a speech at Friday the Park Place Event Centre in Cedar Falls.
“Culver’s only chance at re-election is giving him a candidate with a political record,” Vander Plaats said.
Party Loyalty
Vander Plaats Gears Up for ‘Crucial Primary Vote’
MUSCATINE, Iowa - Republican gubernatorial candidate Bob Vander Plaats said Wednesday he worries Iowa is exporting its No. 1 resource: Its children.
So imagine how he felt when his son, Hans, told his parents that upon completing his studies at Oxford University this spring, he would begin work in New York.
“When he marries and has kids, I believe he will want to move back to Iowa and drive a 4-by-4 truck again,” Vander Plaats told a crowd of around 40 people at Whispering Pines Golf Course.
Chuck Norris to Campaign with Bob
Sites of Chuck Norris Appearances in Davenport, Cedar Rapids, West Des Moines, and Council Bluffs
DES MOINES – The times and locations of four Bob Vander Plaats for governor campaign events featuring internationally known actor and martial arts champion Chuck Norris have been announced.
Norris and his wife, Gena, will appear with Vander Plaats at a noon, June 4 rally at LeClaire Park on the Mississippi River in downtown Davenport. They will appear later that same day at a 5:30 p.m. event at the hotel at Kirkwood Center, 7725 Kirkwood Blvd., SW, in Cedar Rapids.
On Saturday, June 5, the campaign will hold a 10:30 a.m. rally at Jordan Park Camp, 2251 Fuller Road, West Des Moines. A 4:30 p.m. rally is scheduled at The Bluffs Center, 714 S. Main St., Council Bluffs.
Bob is Interviewed by KCCI TV
Watch the interview by clicking here.
Photos from Iowa City
Listen to Bob’s View on Immigration
Vander Plaats Speaks at GOP Lunch
Meanwhile, Sioux City businessman Bob Vander Plaats said the state has been “hostile” to job creation for years, arguing for lower taxes and less regulation.
The luncheon came on the day Culver’s campaign announced he would kick off his re-election campaign next week. He’ll be in Davenport at 5:30 p.m. May 18 at the Figge Art Museum.
Donn Stanley, Culver’s campaign manager, responded that the governor has balanced the state’s budget without raising taxes and has worked to attract companies like IBM and Google to the state.
Vote Absentee
Scott County Republicans fired up for primary
DAVENPORT, Iowa - Iowa voters go to the polls in less than a month. The June 8th vote will pick a Republican challenger to run against Gov. Chet Culver. And the GOP is calling on state budget cuts to capture a win.
“Is there anybody in this room that would like to replace Chet Culver in November?” asked Carol Crain, president of the Scott County Republican Women.
It’s a question to energize, inspire and fire up Republicans for the Iowa Primary. Just 29 days until the vote, two-thirds of the Republican gubernatorial challengers were campaigning in Davenport on Monday.
Come to a House Party!
Vander Plaats Focus on Soldiers, Veterans
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Veterans and people serving in the military make up less than 10 percent of Iowa’s population, but they’re drawing lots of attention from the candidates for governor.
GOP challenger Bob Vander Plaats notes that one of his top campaign advisers is a retired brigadier general in the Iowa Army National Guard.
Why so much attention for a relatively small group?
Poll Results
Party Loyalty
Branstad Flips on Immigration Issue
Republican candidate for governor Bob Vander Plaats says he supports denying state benefits such as in-state college tuition to children of illegal immigrants, even if the children were born in the United States.
Former Gov. Terry Branstad said the same thing Saturday but backtracked Tuesday.
Some scholars, citing “very strong” precedent, say the Constitution is clear that children born in the United States are citizens and entitled to services. A more pertinent question, they say, is how far states can go in limiting benefits for illegal immigrants and children not born in the United States.
Take Bob’s Poll on Illegal Immigration
Rasmussen Poll: Vander Plaats Lead Culver
Terry Branstad and Bob Vander Plaats both continue to lead incumbent Gov. Chet Culver in the latest poll from Rasmussen Reports. Branstad leads Culver by 15 percentage points, compared to 16 points in March. Vander Plaats leads Culver by 4 percentage points, up from 2 points in March. Rod Roberts still trails Culver by 2 percentage points.
The survey of 500 likely voters was conducted April 29, and has a margin of error of plus or minus 4.5 percentage points.
Here are the numbers, with the March poll in parentheses:
Vander Plaats: 45 percent (42 percent)
Culver: 41 percent (40 percent)
Some other candidate: 9 percent (8 percent)
Not sure: 5 percent (11 percent)
Upcoming House Parties
Sioux City Journal Editorial Board Interview
State Parties Look to Loyalty Oaths in Effort to Keep Candidates in Line
In an age of political turmoil, party loyalty is increasingly taking front and center stage in the world of state party politics. In Florida, Iowa and Georgia state political parties are challenging candidates within their own parties in an effort to maintain party unity.
Over the weekend, two of the three candidates for Iowa governor clashed over the topic of party loyalty during a forum in Cedar Rapids.
At the debate candidates were asked whether they would back the party’s nominee. Bob Vander Plaats suggested competitor Terry Branstad — the former governor — was not a “team player” when it came to supporting Republicans.
Polls Close at 9
Jun 08, 2010
The polls close in four hours. We expect the results to be close, so these last few hours are critical. Please vote before 9:00 p.m. tonight!
Click here to find your polling place, or call Bob's campaign headquarters with any questions at 515-278-5183.
After you vote, I invite you to join me for my Victory Party at the Embassy Suites in Downtown Des Moines at 101 East Locust, Des Moines in Salons D and E beginning at 7:30 p.m.
