Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad’s office is putting the kibosh on a report that he was supporting former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty in the state’s key early presidential caucus — saying that he is remaining totally neutral instead.
In a column today, David Broder mentioned as a side point:
An exceptionally skilled politician, Branstad is generally counted in the Pawlenty camp. His support is the main reason Pawlenty is given a chance in the leadoff caucuses – even against Huckabee, the surprise 2008 winner in Iowa; Romney, who has invested heavily in organizing the state; and perhaps others, including Newt Gingrich, the former speaker of the House.
Branstad’s people moved quickly to refute the story, with a pair of tweets on his account.
Gov. Branstad welcomes all 2012 contenders, and is remaining strictly neutral. Not accurate: http://wapo.st/fzQ5lE
Gov. Branstad fully supports the caucus process and as such, respects and welcomes all 2012 presidential candidates to our great state.
And the Des Moines Register reports:
Where Broder is getting that is a bit of a mystery. Branstad is a political contemporary of Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour, who, as chairman of the Republican Governors Association last year, also helped pour more than $1 million into Branstad’s campaign. But close allies of Branstad — Chuck Larson and Karen Slifka — are advising Pawlenty, the former governor of Minnesota.
Branstad aides reiterated today that the governor welcomes all 2012 prospects to the race, and remains neutral. Broder’s assertion, they say, “100 percent inaccurate.”
(Via Minnesota Independent)
