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Iowa Democratic Party: Branstad/Reynolds really did fail to unite the party
6/28/2010

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 26, 2010

Contact: Norm Sterzenbach 515-244-7292

VANDER PLAATS, ROBERTS NOMINATED AT CONVENTION

Des Moines, IA - Delegates at the Republican Party of Iowa state convention nominated former gubernatorial candidates Bob Vander Plaats and Rod Roberts, hoping to knock State Senator Kim Reynolds off the ballot. A three-way race for Lt. Governor proves Branstad is far from unifying the party.

"We knew the Branstad/Reynolds ticket would never close the fissure in the Republican party but, after today's events, it's pretty clear that fissure is wider and deeper than we could ever have guessed," said Iowa Democratic Party Chair Sue Dvorsky.

Branstad announced Thursday that Reynolds, an unknown Senator from Osceola and Branstad crony, would join him on the ticket. Even members of their own party said Reynolds would add nothing to the Branstad ticket and it's clear that's exactly what almost half the convention delegates believed, as well.

Steve King nominated Reynolds for Lt. Governor at the convention. Reynolds won the nomination over Vander Plaats 749 to 579 after ballots were re-cast and re-counted. Roberts declined the nomination.

"To have three nominations for Lt. Governor at a convention is a pretty good sign things are not going well within the party." continued Dvorsky.

Reynolds will stay on the ballot in November but it's clear it will be an uphill battle just to rally the base. Both Branstad and Reynolds have been unable to receive votes from nearly half the Republican party.

"This just shows how disorganized, dishonest and disturbed the Republican Party is in this state. The thought of being part of such an unhappy and unhealthy organization is scary and it should be scary to them. This will be a very interesting race, indeed."

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