Governor Tom Vilsack, a Democrat, talked with statehouse reporters by cell phone on Tuesday to accuse the Republican who’s running to replace him of distorting the Vilsack record.
During Monday night’s debate, Republican candidate Jim Nussle said a number of critical things about the Vilsack years, most notably accusing Vilsack of failing to adequately protect Iowans. “Prisons, corrections, law enforcement has not been a top priority for this administration,” Nussle said. “Iowa is not as safe as it needs to be.”
Vilsack responded, saying in the past two years there have been “millions of dollars” of new spending on Iowa’s prison system, more prison guards are on the job, and new additions opened at two state prisons. “I think it is important for the people of Iowa to know what the truth is and what the specifics are,” Vilsack said.
Vilsack made his comments during a conference call arranged by the campaign of Chet Culver, the Democrat who faces Nussle in November.
Nussle’s campaign accused Vilsack of “doing damage control” for Culver and trying to divert attention from Culver’s own “lackluster record.” Vilsack, who is not seeking another term as governor, is plotting a run for the White House in 2008.