Republican governors from four other states appeared in Des Moines a few hours before democratic presidential candidate John Kerry did to praise President Bush and criticize Kerry. Nebraska Governor Mike Johanns. “We are barnstoming the country…in 14 states because we have a tremendous passion for this man, George W. Bush, who is running for re-election,” Johanns said. Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty called Bush a strong, steady leader. “You know, John Kerry said that the war in Iraq is the ‘wrong war at the wrong place at the wrong time,'” Pawlenty said. “John Kerry, in my view, is the wrong person running for the wrong office at the wrong time.” Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney said Kerry, who is his home-state senator, will say “do whatever it takes to win.” “Boy he does well in front of the camera. A silver tongue has the man. Indeed, he’s very good in front of a camera. He’s as good as an anchorman,” Romney said. Romney said Kerry has “grand aspirations,” but Romney said Kerry’s record doesn’t show strong leadership. Romney will be the keynote speaker Saturday night at a Republican Party of Iowa fundraiser in Des Moines. A few hours later, Iowa’s Governor, democrat Tom Vilsack, talked to the pro-Kerry crowd gathered on the state fairgrounds. “Now I assume these brooms here are for the sweep of the debates — is that right?” Vilsack asked the crowd. “They can also be used to sweep the bums out.”
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