Dull Republican Gubernatorial Debate Changes Nothing

On Tuesday I said that sometimes it feels good to be proven wrong. I praised Dave Funk, Brad Zaun and Jim Gibbons for breathing some new life and, dare I say it, a little excitement into the primary campaign. They had me rethinking my earlier statement that neither party had anything (or anybody) fresh to offer voters. Today I watched the Republican gubernatorial debate. There wasn’t anything fresh or exciting about this trio.

First, the debate was poorly conceived. The panelists asking questions lobbed mostly softball questions that did nothing to probe where the candidates differed. Asking these three GOP candidates to express their stances on abortion is like asking National Rifle Association members if Americans should be able to carry guns. There was a “lightning round” where the candidates were supposed to respond yes or no to convoluted and complex questions. The purpose of a debate is to hear how the candidates respond, not one word answers to a reporter’s “litmus test” issues list. It was an hour mostly wasted.

Second, it was obvious today that Terry Branstad, Rod Roberts and Bob Vander Plaats are coasting to the finish line. Terry Branstad deftly swatted back Bob Vander Plaats’ attacks. It was easy for Branstad to do. He had heard every line before. Vander Plaats has not come up with anything new to say since Branstad entered the race. This is Vander Plaats’ third attempt at bat for the gubernatorial nomination and his fatigue is showing. Rod Roberts was calm and gets points for a few solid answers, but he and Terry Branstad were bending over backwards to show respect for one another. In the ‘ask your opponent a question” round, Branstad asked Roberts who he most admired. Yawn.

I expect the nominee will be Branstad. He has run circles around his opponents in fundraising and looked ever the statesman today. Roberts and Vander Plaats are fast running out of opportunities to distinguish themselves as credible candidates. Yeah, it is never over until the votes are counted, but unless Roberts or Vander Plaats offer something more in the next few days than the lackluster performances I watched today, it will be a Culver Branstad match-up in November.

This entry was first published as a Des Moines Register blog entry.