GOP leader says Vilsack is vulnerable

The head of Iowa’s Republican Party says democrat Governor Tom Vilsack will be a “vulnerable” candidate for re-election in 2002. G-O-P chairman Chuck Larson, Junior, says Vilsack’s a “big spending liberal.” Larson says Vilsack’s developing a “pattern of fiscal mismanagement.” Vilsack is resisting the budget cuts Republican legislators have proposed. Larson says Vilsack, like President Clinton, is developing a “political pay-back” system in Iowa. Republicans plan to continue criticizing Vilsack for writing a letter to Titan Tire management after union workers alleged immigrant women working in the Des Moines tire plant were being sexually harassed. Larson made his comments during taping of the I-P-T-V program “Iowa Press.”The chair of the Iowa Democratic Party responded today by saying the Republicans should worry about this year’s budget problems, instead of the 2002 election.