Governor Chet Culver says he expects President Obama to return to Iowa before November 2nd to campaign for him. “The president’s a good friend and I expect he’ll be here to help us win this race,” Culver says. Obama was in Des Moines Wednesday for a backyard conversation with about 70 invited guests, but he did no campaign events for local Democrats like Culver.
Culver did greet Obama at the airport on Tuesday evening and Culver spent some time with the president. “I told him that when we continue to build on the momentum and continue to get the message out and make the choice more and more clear to Iowans and when we show the nation and the voters of Iowa that, you know, we’re the best choice to lead Iowa in terms of our election, I expect they’ll be back,” Culver says.
Obama spent over an hour answering questions from a handful of Iowans yesterday morning, an event White House officials say was designed to get Obama out of Washington, D.C. so he can hear what Americans have on their minds. Culver says Obama was able to allay some of the fears about policies Democrats at the national level have advanced.
“You know, having that straight talk is very helpful,” Culver says. Culver, in his first term, is facing an uphill battle for reelection against Republican Terry Branstad, the former governor.