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For weeks, Iowa Democrats and Republicans have questioned what former Governor Terry Branstad's stance is on same sex marriage. His former Lieutenant Governor Joy Corning had been making recorded, automated phone calls across the state promoting same sex marriages.
Channel 13's Dave Price asked him whether same-sex couples should get married in Iowa. Branstad responded, "Absolutely not. I'm the governor who signed the Defense of Marriage Law that said marriage is a contract between one man and one woman. I was very disappointed with the court's decision and believe the people of Iowa should be able to vote to overturn that just as they have in 31 other states."
Bob Vander Plaats, one of Branstad's primary Republican opponents, has based much of his campaign on banning same sex marriage and said he would sign an executive order to do it. When asked if Branstad thought that executive order would be legal, he said, "No, I don't think so."
Branstad said his disappointment over how Chet Culver has governed the state for the last three years brought him out of political retirement. He pointed to Culver's multiple failings. He said, "I think a lack of attention, lack of focus, lack of choosing the best people for the positions." He continued, "He let the film office do what now looks like illegal and inappropriate things."
Those things, Branstad believes, may have allowed moviemakers to swindle Iowa taxpayers under Culver's watch. He said Culver's mismanagement is a pattern, like not listening to Republican warnings that he was spending too much as the economy worsened. Branstad said, "He (Culver) just ignored it and said everything is fine. Other states were making changes and he refused to and now, of course, after the fact, finally last month, he came to the realization...yeah, the state is in dire financial straits and he did an across the board cut."
Culver defends the state's financial situation and blames the failed policies of former President George W. Bush and Wall Street. Culver said, "That caused a financial collapse that we haven't seen in this country since the great depression. So it's a lot more complicated than that explanation."
But Branstad believes his head-to-head showing in a Des Moines Register Iowa Poll proves Iowans don't believe Culver's explanation. That poll shows Branstad beating Culver 57-33%. He said those numbers and his political record show he will win, although he admitted he doesn't believe numbers. Not yet. He said, "I've been in 10 contests and I've never lost and I've never been 24 points ahead in the poll. But I have an old saying about polls, the only poll that counts is the one they take on election day."
Channel 13's Dave Price asked him whether same-sex couples should get married in Iowa. Branstad responded, "Absolutely not. I'm the governor who signed the Defense of Marriage Law that said marriage is a contract between one man and one woman. I was very disappointed with the court's decision and believe the people of Iowa should be able to vote to overturn that just as they have in 31 other states."
Bob Vander Plaats, one of Branstad's primary Republican opponents, has based much of his campaign on banning same sex marriage and said he would sign an executive order to do it. When asked if Branstad thought that executive order would be legal, he said, "No, I don't think so."
Branstad said his disappointment over how Chet Culver has governed the state for the last three years brought him out of political retirement. He pointed to Culver's multiple failings. He said, "I think a lack of attention, lack of focus, lack of choosing the best people for the positions." He continued, "He let the film office do what now looks like illegal and inappropriate things."
Those things, Branstad believes, may have allowed moviemakers to swindle Iowa taxpayers under Culver's watch. He said Culver's mismanagement is a pattern, like not listening to Republican warnings that he was spending too much as the economy worsened. Branstad said, "He (Culver) just ignored it and said everything is fine. Other states were making changes and he refused to and now, of course, after the fact, finally last month, he came to the realization...yeah, the state is in dire financial straits and he did an across the board cut."
Culver defends the state's financial situation and blames the failed policies of former President George W. Bush and Wall Street. Culver said, "That caused a financial collapse that we haven't seen in this country since the great depression. So it's a lot more complicated than that explanation."
But Branstad believes his head-to-head showing in a Des Moines Register Iowa Poll proves Iowans don't believe Culver's explanation. That poll shows Branstad beating Culver 57-33%. He said those numbers and his political record show he will win, although he admitted he doesn't believe numbers. Not yet. He said, "I've been in 10 contests and I've never lost and I've never been 24 points ahead in the poll. But I have an old saying about polls, the only poll that counts is the one they take on election day."
