Congrats, Chet Culvert and Supporters

Voter casts ballot at a Auto body shoppe, in Des Moines area. Democracy in action!

(courtesy of DMR)


Yesterday was the Democratic primary for the Iowa governor's race. I don't live in Iowa. Why do I care?

First, it was important because there were 3 contenders, and one of them was making a last minute surge in the polls as of yesterday morning. Whoever did not win at least 35 or above percent, it would have to be decided at the Iowa Democratic convention later this month, and could have posed a problem for the contender against the Republican (who was already decided) in the general election. Iowa may go red again in the fall, which many of us don't want, and especially being neighbors.

Second, it was important for Iowa to pick someone a bit younger, who has energy and spunk.

Third, it was important because the campaign manager of one the contenders used to work for JRE.

Lastly, most of my Iowa OAC blogger friends were pulling for Chet Culvert.

The winner: Chet Culvert. His campaign manager used to work for JRE.

Now, here's the skinny from the Des Moines Register:

Iowa Secretary of State Chet Culver claimed the 2006 Democratic nomination for governor late Tuesday, turning back a late challenge by former state economic development director Mike Blouin and outpacing state Rep. Ed Fallon.

Culver’s narrow victory marks a turn by the state’s party activists away from Gov. Tom Vilsack, the two-term Democrat who is not seeking re-election this year and for whom Blouin worked as chief economic officer.

Culver’s narrow victory marks a turn by the state’s party activists away from Gov. Tom Vilsack, the two-term Democrat who is not seeking re-election this year and for whom Blouin worked as chief economic officer.

Culver will face U.S. Rep. Jim Nussle, an eight-term Republican congressman from Manchester in the fall general election.

The match-up pits the self-styled “progressive Democrat” and heir to a party icon against a member of the Republican congressional leadership. National analysts have identified Iowa as one of the best chances in the country for the GOP to pick up a governor’s seat this year.

With about 80 percent of the precincts reporting, Culver had more than 38 percent of the vote, compared to about 34.5 percent for Blouin and more than 26 percent for Fallon.

LINK

Have a butter burger, Culvert supporters. JRE likes them, I hear.

Update: THG of the OAC blog just posted her first hand account of the primary.