He may not “officially” be in the race, but former Gov. Terry Branstad is already getting his share of attention from a chief rival for the 2010 GOP gubernatorial nomination, Chris Rants.

Rants has started a new feature on his campaign Web site that pulls old newspaper articles that “pre-date the Google” and publishes them for all to see. It’s basically a way to make pieces of opposition research public.

The first article is a 1998 column by former Des Moines Register political writer David Yepsen headlined “Branstad, the liberal governor.”

Just imagine a governor who raises the sales tax twice. Just imagine a governor who increased spending every year he was in office. Just imagine a governor who increased the state payroll and expanded gambling. Just imagine a governor who built a state-owned telephone company. Iowa was a pro-choice, no-death-penalty state 16 years ago and it still is. Just imagine a governor who wants to spend more on schools, including programs that will get the government more involved in children’s education.

You’ve got him. Terry E. Branstad of Lake Mills.

“Mr. Yepsen provides a historical perspective on how a ‘conservative’ governor racked up such a liberal record over sixteen years,” Rants said.

The site also proves that Branstad, who more or less entered the race last week, is in for a fight if he truly wants his party’s nomination. As predicted by several observers, the GOP primary could turn nasty as Election Day approaches, as this isn’t the first time Branstad has been the focus of Rants’ attacks.