In interviews last week retired Gen. Wesley Clark, a likely repeat Democratic presidential candidate, admitted that skipping the Iowa Caucuses in 2004 was a whopping political error.
At the time Clark made the decision to start his presidential run in New Hampshire and South Carolina, Vermont Gov. Howard Dean led the polls in Iowa and appeared poised for a Hawkeye State romp.
But Iowa Democrats, more than a little nervous with Dean’s personality and fall prospects, sought what they believed a safer alternative: U.S. Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts.
It’s not hard to see how Clark could have been the “Dean alternative” had the Arkansas Democrat chosen to work Iowa’s 99 counties. Kerry struggled with financing in the months before he won the Iowa Caucuses. Had Clark been the recipient of the Dean Vs. Alternative press, both national and in the state, Clark could have won Iowa, and then who knows?
But he snubbed us.
And so far that is exactly what Democratic gubernatorial candidate Chet Culver is doing to west-central Iowa.
One can’t help but wonder if Culver will have the same Monday morning regrets as Clark.
Culver hasn’t visited Carroll County once since announcing his run for Terrace Hill — unless he came into town the way Bob Irsay and the Colts left Baltimore, under cover of darkness.
Meanwhile, Culver’s main primary opponent, former Iowa Department of Economic Development director Mike Blouin, has been in Carroll four times for official events with public and media access. He spoke from the same podium twice in five days last week, addressing the Rotary Club and Carroll County Democrats at the Carrollton Centre.
With regard to Culver’s lack of campaign appearances in Carroll, his running mate Patty Judge said voters are well aware of Culver’s positions and personality.
“Chet doesn’t really need anybody at this point to introduce him to the state of Iowa,” Judge said.
Fine then. Save the money and campaign from your front porch like William McKinley.
At the Carroll County Democratic Party event last Friday Judge actually referred local activists to Culver campaign commercials for information on the campaign.
Culver, the son of a former U.S. senator, should know this is a state where face-to-face appearances are required not only for gubernatorial candidates, but presidential aspirants as well.
Now, of course, Culver could be planning visits in the next three weeks before the June 6 primary.
But that’s not good enough.
Blouin has been here from the beginning, listening to Carroll County voters and incorporating their thoughts and concerns into his campaign.
Carroll Countians had the chance to move Blouin on issues, to provide him with input that would in turn shape his campaign. A last-minute stop by Culver affords no such opportunity, no such respect for the voices of Carroll County.
I called Culver’s office Monday to ask if they have any visits to Carroll planned — and for an explanation of his no-show record to this point. As of presstime for the editorial page today the Culver campaign had not returned a phone call.
Clearly, it makes sense for statewide candidates to concentrate in larger cities in eastern Iowa, but in a single day a campaign can hit five or six or more venues, swinging through a swath of rural western Iowa counties. I’ve seen the schedules.
Blouin told me Friday night that Carroll is a vital county in the primary calculus because of strong turnout.
Perhaps Culver figures Carroll County, with a strong contingent of pro-life Democrats, is more inclined to vote for Blouin who casts himself as an abortion opponent.
But Blouin’s political position on abortion is effectively pro-choice: don’t change anything.
Culver could make a legitimate pitch to pro-life Democrats: You may not agree with me, but at least I’m straight-up on the issue and not insulting you with double-dealing rhetoric.
There’s more.
Renewable energy is a centerpiece of the Culver campaign, and Carroll County, with wind energy and ethanol and biodiesel plants in the area, would be a prime staging ground for promoting green power.
Judge makes some interesting points about how ethanol production could intersect with a revitalization of the cattle industry. We’d like to hear more from Culver on this.
As it stands, Mike Blouin has paid attention to Carroll. Chet Culver is a no-show.
