Republican leaders in the Iowa House and Senate today announced their endorsement of Congressman Jim Nussle as a candidate for governor. State Senator Chuck Larson of Cedar Rapids was joined on the conference call by Senate Republican Leader Stewart Iverson and House Republican Leader Chuck Gipp. He says 39 republican members of the Iowa House, or 77-percent, and 21 of Republican senators, or 84-percent are urging Nussle to run and endorsing his candidacy. Larson is the former leader of the republican party and says legislators want to send Nussle a message of support. He says, “I believe that this endorsement speaks of the confidence that these elected officials have from across the state of Iowa. They represent Iowans in very diverse backgrounds and it speaks to the confidence they have in his candidacy and his ability to move the state of Iowa forward, to grow our economy and improve our educational system.” Larson says the endorsement also indicates support from the grass roots level from the people who’ve supported the legislators. He says it demonstrates their confidence in Nussle to run and move the state forward. He says this is the type of team that can help win and take back Terrace Hill. Nussle hasn’t officially announced he’s running, but Larson says they’ve talked with him about it. He says, “We’ve been in regular communication with Jim as we have encouraged him to run, updating him on the support in the Iowa House and Senate. and also discussing his vision for the state of Iowa.” Larson says Nussle has made a commitment to make a decision on running this spring. Larson was asked what happens if Nussle decides not to run.He says, “I do believe that he will enter the race. I’m encouraged by uh, by the conversations we have had about the direction he would like to lead State of Iowa and the relationship he would like to build with the Iowa House and Iowa Senate. So, I’m looking forward to Jim Nussle running for governor. But we’ll wait until this spring for the final announcement.” Bob Vander Plaats (plawtz) of Sioux City has already announced he is running for the republican nomination for governor. Larson was asked why the legislators were endorsing Nussle over Van Plaats and he would only repeat that he feels Nussle has the experience and ability to win the republican nomination. Nussle, who is from Manchester, is in his 15th year in Congress, where he serves as chairman of the House Budget Committee. The republicans who’ve endorsed Nussle are: Senators; Jeff Angelo, Jerry Behn, Nancy Boettger, Thurman Gaskill, James Hahn, Hubert Houser, Stewart Iverson, Steve Kettering, Jeff Lamberti, Chuck Larson, Mary Lundby, Larry McKibbne, Paul McKinley, David Miller, John Putney, James Seymour, Doug Shull, Maggie Tinsman, Pat Ward, Brad Zaun, Mark Zieman. Representatives: Rich Anderson, Rich Arnold, Clel Baudler, Carmine Boal, Danny Carroll, Betty DeBoef, Bill Dix, Cecil Dolecheck, Jack Drake, George Eichhorn, Jeff Elgin, Chuck Gipp, Polly Granzow, Sandy Greiner, Dave Heaton, Clarence Hoffman, Lance Horbach, Joe Hutter, Libby Jacobs, Willard Jenkins, Gerald Jones, Jeff Kaufman, Jim Kurtenbach, Steven Lukan, O. Gene Maddox, Mike May, Steven Olson, Kraig Paulson, Christopher Rants, Bill Schickel, Doug Struyk, Dave Tjepkes, Walt Tomenga, Jodi Tymeson, Linda Upmeyer, Jamie Van Fossen, Jim Van Fossen, Ralph Watts, Paul Wilderdyke.)