Vander Plaats bows out

Vander Plaats bows out

Most of the Iowa blogosphere beat me to this but my local readers may be interested:

Bob Vander Plaats will end his bid for the Republican nomination for governor Wednesday and become U.S. Rep. Jim Nussle's running mate, party leaders said Monday.

The Nussle campaign told high-ranking party members Monday of the decision by the campaigns to join forces, ending what some believed could have become a bitter primary battle between the eight-term congressman from Manchester and the Vander Plaats, a Sioux City businessman...

To repeat my previously stated points:

This increases the pressure on Blouin and Fallon to name running mates

Outside the 1st CD, the top GOP race is Ag Secretary, which will be less of a draw than Democratic governor. This reduces the chances that Blouin will do the right thing and say VETO in public pre-primary - gotta get that crossover vote...

Locally it means Republicans will be drawn to the Democratic courthouse contests...