Governor Branstad “might” endorse one of the Republican presidential candidates next week, after the neighboring state of Wisconsin holds its primary on April 3.
“I guess my feeling is that Republicans do need to come together and we do need to have a strong and united campaign to win back the White House as well to win these other races that are critically important, including the Iowa legislature and the congressional seats that are at stake,” Branstad said this morning during his weekly news conference.
Branstad remained neutral during 2011 when eight Republican candidates were trying to win support from Iowa Republicans in the state’s first-in-the-nation Caucuses. The campaign is “progressing” but the “next big test” is Wisconsin’s primary, according to Branstad.
“I’m going to take another look at this whole situation after Wisconsin,” Branstad said. “I think Wisconsin will be very instrumental in this whole nomination process.”
Branstad is worried about the “resources” being spent on the primary season and Branstad told reporters he’s concerned about some of the “personal attacks” that have been thrown about by the four candidates who remain in the race.
“It’s time for the party to come together in the not too distant future and really focus on winning the General Election,” Branstad said.
Find the audio of Branstad’s remarks on this subject here.
Rick Santorum, the winner of Iowa’s January 3rd Republican Caucuses, won this weekend’s Louisiana’s primary. A Rasmussen poll of likely voters in Wisconsin’s primary indicate Mitt Romney’s in the lead there.