Eric Cooper, 43, of Ames, and Nick Weltha, 30, of Des Moines, will hold a press conference next week in Ames to formally announce their intention to seek the Libertarian Party’s 2010 nomination for governor and lieutenant governor.

Eric Cooper

“We think that our candidacy will provide an alternative to the major parties for Iowa citizens who want a smaller government,” said Cooper, who will serve as the gubernatorial candidate. “We believe we will attract support from fiscally responsible Democrats, socially liberal Republicans, and Independents who are tired of the ever-expanding size of Iowa government.

“Our goal in this election is to get at least 2 percent of the vote, which would give the Libertarian Party major party status under Iowa law. We also hope to draw enough support away from the major parties to encourage them to poach our issues in order to steal our voters.”

Cooper is an associate professor of psychology and neuroscience at Iowa State University, and is currently the vice chairman of the Libertarian Party of Iowa. He has previously run five times as a Libertarian for the Iowa legislature from Ames, and was the Iowa College Coordinator for the Ron Paul presidential campaign prior to the 2008 caucuses.

Welta, who will serve as the ticket’s lieutenant governor candidate, is a systems administrator for the Iowa Judicial Branch, and served as the vice chairman of the Libertarian Party of Iowa from 2006 to 2008.

Key issues in the campaign, according to the two candidates, will be encouraging the legalization of marijuana in the state of Iowa, allowing greater school choice for both primary and higher education students and repealing the Iowa fireworks ban. More information regarding the candidates’ stance on the issues can be found by visiting their website.

While 2 percent of the vote may seem like a relatively easy task, it has historically been difficult for third parties in Iowa to attain. Due to an engorged field of Republican hopefuls — the party most likely to lose voters to Libertarian candidates — it remains unlikely that a third party will reach such a goal in 2010.

GOP gubernatorial candidate Rod Roberts (left) speaks with former Gov. Terry Branstad.

Branstad, who served four terms as Iowa’s governor from 1982 to 1998, is considered by many to be the automatic favorite to win the GOP nomination next year.

“Iowans have spoken, and Gov. Branstad has listened,” said Sandy Grenier, a former state legislator who founded the Draft Branstad PAC in September to convince the former governor to enter the race.

The Des Moines Register reports that initial Branstad supporters include former Republican Party of Iowa Chairman Richard Schwarm; 2002 GOP gubernatorial nominee Doug Gross; political strategist David Roederer; Vermeer Corp. CEO Mary Andringa; and businessman and top GOP donor Bruce Rastetter.

In addition, several state legislators have signed on to the Draft Branstad movement.

A recent Iowa Poll by Selzer & Co. Inc. of Des Moines found that 70 percent of Iowans look back approvingly on Branstad’s years in office. It also found that 48 percent of Iowans believe he should run for a fifth term.

While many Iowans, and a lot of large Republican donors, will greet the news with glee, Branstad’s entrance into the race is not without detractors, most notably his fellow Republicans already seeking the gubernatorial nomination.

Just last week state Rep. Chris Rants of Sioux City attacked Branstad’s record of balancing the state’s budget, saying he used “accounting gimmicks” instead of fiscal responsibility. Another GOP rival, Bob Vander Plaats, made it a point to tell reporters he would not try to “balance the ticket with somebody who’s moderate or liberal or who doesn’t believe in those core values like I do,” a statement many considered a shot at Branstad, who chose Joy Corning, a pro-choice, moderate Republican, as running mate in 1990 and 1994.

Veteran Iowa journalist Chuck Offenburger, formerly with The Des Moines Register and now managing his own Web site, called a potential Branstad candidacy a “black eye for the Republican Party of Iowa,” claiming it would discourage a new generation of Republicans to get active in politics and set back all the good work done by the party’s new leadership.

Controversial Christian radio host Steve Deace has been highly critical of Branstad re-entering politics. He predicts the bloodiest primary in the state party’s history, pitting so-called Polk County moderates against social conservative activists. Deace says Branstad’s record will not sell to social conservatives, pointing to his appointment of the Supreme Court Justice who penned the decision legalizing same-sex marriage to his choice of Corning as lieutenant governor.

In addition to Branstad, Rants and Vander Plaats, four other men are currently seeking the GOP nomination: state Sen. Jerry Behn, Christian Fong, state Sen. Paul McKinley and state Rep. Rod Roberts.

Both men have said previously that they are considering challenging Gov. Chet Culver next year. But in order to do so they would have to give up their current office, and most observers consider them safe bets for re-election if they do stay put.

Northey told the Associated Press’ Mike Glover that he is “leaning toward running for secretary of Agriculture,” but that his final decision would come this summer.

Vaudt said he hasn’t officially made up his mind, but according to Glover, “seemed more focused during the interview on his accomplishments as auditor.”

This comes on the heels of former Gov. Terry Branstad and Vermeer Corp. CEO Mary Andringa telling the Des Moines Register Wednesday that they will not run in 2010. So far, only Sioux City businessman and two-time gubernatorial candidate Bob Vander Plaats has officially thrown his hat in the ring.

However, former Republican Party of Iowa Political Director Craig Robinson reports on his blog that state Rep. Christopher Rants of Sioux City is beginning to “lay some ground work for a potential campaign,” visiting Davenport, Cedar Rapids, Des Moines and Council Bluffs in the days since the legislative session ended. Rants said previously that Culver’s handling of the same-sex marriage issue would make him more likely to run for governor in 2010. Despite being ousted as minority leader late last year, Rants took a leading roll in the waning days of the 2009 session, spearheading his party’s efforts to overturn the Supreme Court’s gay marriage decision and casting one of only three votes against changes to the state’s sex offender laws.

Others who have indicated they are exploring a run include former state Sen. Jeff Lamberti of Ankeny, state Rep. Rob Roberts of Carroll, Ames businessman and GOP financier Bruce Rastetter and U.S. Rep. Steve King of Kiron.

While he said he was happy being the state’s Ag Secretary, the Republican from Spirit Lake hasn’t “closed the door on anything.” However, if the right candidate jumps in the race he said that could make his decision easy.

“I think there’s some other good folks that would certainly be great and that may be reason I decide not to do something. It really does depend on lots of different things,” Northey said. “I think it’s all very, very early and I’m sure even some of the folks being talked about may or may not run. I think everybody’s kind of waiting to see what their life is like and how it fits in with campaign plans, but also to see who else is out there and just to see what the status of the state is and what the state needs.”

In this video, his ad hoc rock band jams for a few bars before Janet Huckabee takes the stage for an intro of her husband.  In honor of the presidential candidate, the drummer rewrote some lyrics to the classic “Sweet Home Chicago”:

“Going to the caucuses and don’t be late!”

Huckabee’s band played three songs in front of a large backdrop that read, “Enough is enough!”

Below the fold, a Huckabee supporter talks about a negative television ad the campaign pulled before it was broadcast in Iowa. For more on this story, a see I.I. reporter Jay Wagner’s article, and you can view a video of Huckabee feeling confident in his decision to pull the ad here: http://www.iowaindep…Cedar Rapids resident Don Woods is a postal worker and big-time Mike Huckabee supporter. He’s seen the candidate speak three times and said Huckabee has a very direct and personal connection with his audience.

Woods also talked about Huckabee’s decision to pull the plug on a negative ad before it was broadcast on Iowa TV stations.

In Highlight Reel Part 2: Comparing Candidate Endorsements, you can find more than a dozen candidate endorsements.

In this installment of the Highlight Reel, we’ll hear from the candidates talking about, well, other candidates. Sometimes candidates question each other using the mouthpiece of the media.  This Highlight Reel is limited to commentary from candidates on other candidates.

Below the fold, videos of the candidates talking about each other.Bill Richardson caught some flack from Joe Biden during the AARP debate in Davenport. In this video, responding to Biden’s attack, he said, “Joe Biden is my friend.”

Former governor Bill Richardson recently had questions for other Democratic candidates regarding Iraq.  He said they “decided to stop talking about Iraq.”

In this video, Mitt Romney is asked about the “illegal” war in Iraq.  He responds by saying he’s glad the U.S. didn’t follow Barack Obama’s plan which, as Mitt sees it, would have “yanked” troops out of Iraq too soon.

In this video shot by Iowa Independent reporter Dien Judge, Illinois Sen. Barack Obama calls out former senator John Edwards on his record with lobbyists and so-called 527 soft money groups.

Iowa Independent cameras happened to be rolling when John Edwards was asked about Obama’s criticism of the pro-Edwards 527 groups, some of which are directed by former Edwards’ staffers.

Chris Dodd slammed Hillary Clinton following the same debate in Davenport. He questioned her experience regarding health care reform.

And on a related topic, Obama had this to say about Clinton’s health care work fifteen years ago for her husband’s administration:

If you missed the Highlight Reel Parts 1 and 2, visit these pages for more videos from the presidential campaigns in Iowa:
Highlight Reel Part 1: Comparing Candidate Intros
or
Highlight Reel Part 2: Comparing Candidate Endorsements.

He answered questions about a negative ad that he pulled before it was broadcast in Iowa and his upcoming appearance as a non-musical guest on Jay Leno’s television show in Burbank, California.

In this video, former governor Mike Huckabee responds to questions about his recent television commercial that he played for the press, but decided not to air.

Iowa Independent reporter Jay Wagner had the story on the ad pull yesterday.

With a big smile, Huckabee assured the press corps that they wouldn’t miss him while he was doing the Leno show.  He also hailed the program’s importance; it will be the first Leno show to be taped since a writer’s strike put the late night talk program (and others like it) on hiatus.

The multi-talented politician played three songs with his ad hoc band before his speech and press conference.

He challenged the other Democratic candidates on Iraq when he said: “They’ve decided to stop talking about Iraq. Their campaign strategies have shifted to other issues.  Over the last few debates and on the campaign trail, our brave troops in Iraq seem to have been forgotten.”

Richardson did not ignore domestic issues in his speech. Among other concerns, he addressed unions and labor issues; health care; education and No Child Left Behind; and global warming and alternative energy issues.

He was asked by Cornell College student Bianca Byrd about leaving Iraq too soon. She said she was worried that Iraq would “implode” if we removed troops without a plan for protecting Iraqi people and stabilizing the region.

She was happy with his answer to her question.  He said he wants to have “American diplomacy take over” after removing U.S. troops.  He explained further that:

“Iraq is not exactly helpless. They  have over 300,000 security forces; … they have a financial foundation for the future. … And then we can pay attention to what really concerns America, which is threats of international terrorism, nuclear terrorism, loose nuclear weapons, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, becoming energy independent, helping with international poverty and disease and having a foundation of having a foreign policy based on our human rights.”

More videos of Richardson’s speech are below the fold.Part of Richardson’s speech on the teleprompter

Here is more from Richardson on U.S. troops in Iraq:

Richardson was also asked about Iran and the vote on branding Iran’s Republican Guard as a terrorist organization. 

He distanced himself from opponent Hillary Clinton, saying she was wrong to vote for the resolution, but he was quick to remind the audience of his work for former President Bill Clinton’s administration.

Here is Richardson on the foreign policy challenge of Iran and the rest of the middle East:

More on Richardson’s recent Iowa events from Iowa Independent reporters John Deeth and Tom Lindsey.

Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee drew a large crowd in Newton, Iowa on Tuesday morning.  He was introduced by the campaign’s state co-chairman, Danny Carroll, and was joined by his wife, Janet Huckabee, and Huckabee’s Iowa Chairman, Bob Vander Plaats. 

Huckabee took some questions from the audience following a short stump speech in the Des Moines Area Community College Conference Center in Newton.

Videos from Newton, Ia. available below the fold.Newton resident John Stilley asked the former governor about his values system.  Here is the Iowa voter sharing some of his thoughts on Mike Huckabee:

It took Huckabee about five minutes to answer Stilley’s question but it confirmed Stilley’s suspicions: He’d found his candidate.  Listen to Huckabee’s answer in the video below:

Huckabee answered the question by taking a long view of human life, covering birth issues, a definition of marriage, and a little about end-of-life rights.

Romney noted that he has “made more visits to Iowa than any other candidate.”New Hampshire Sen. Judd Gregg, a national co-chairman of the Mitt Romney presidential campaign, said on CNN earlier this week that New Hampshire is “a place where we pick presidents,” but Iowa is “a place where they pick corn.”

On Wednesday morning at a coffee shop in Washington, Ia. Romney said “That’s not my organization, that’s the senator from New Hampshire.”