Governor Branstad.

Iowa’s governor and his staff recorded a video in the last few days that will be played on a cable news channel that specializes in financial reporting. 

CNBC is sponsoring a “Top Twitter States” contest and Governor Branstad is urging Iowans to start tweeting.

“Today we’re asking all Iowans to come together for this great cause,” Branstad said this morning.”Use the hashtag #TopStatesIA to promote our state.”

CNBC will make the state-against-state Twitter competition part of its “best places to do business” special.

In 2010 — during Chet Culver’s last year as governor — the television channel ranked Iowa as the sixth-best state for business. In 2011 — during the first year of the returning Branstad’s fifth term as governor — Iowa fell to number nine on CNBC’s list.