Campaign disclosure reports reveal the Democratic Governors Association bankrolled a spring-time ad campaign against Republican gubernatorial candidate Terry Branstad.
A group called “Iowans for Responsible Government” ran ads and sent direct mail to Iowa Republican voters before the June 8 Primary. It was back when Branstad was competing against two other Republicans for the G.O.P.’s 2010 nomination for governor.
The ads and mailers accused Branstad of being a “liberal.” One piece said Branstad would make “liberals” like Bill Clinton proud. It had an image of Mount Rushmore with Branstad’s head alongside Clinton’s and Barack Obama’s. The Democratic Governors Association spent nearly $800,000 on the Branstad’s-too-liberal campaign.
Branstad’s campaign manager says the association is guilty of distortions and smear tactics. The Branstad camp is demanding an apology from Chet Culver, the state’s Democratic governor. He’s not apologizing.
“(Branstad) needs to worry about his own house before he starts throwing stones on this issue,” Culver says. Culver cites the activities of the Iowa Future Fund, a group which ran ads against Culver in 2008.