Former Iowa Republican Gubernatorial Candidate Doug Gross says he is looking for an alternative candidate for his party to Bob Vander Plaats. Vander Plaats hasn't officially announced his candidacy. But he has set up an exploratory committee that allows him to raise money for a possible run.
Gross and some allies paid for a statewide survey that shows the majority of Iowans want candidates to focus on money matters over marriage. The survey's results show Iowans believe leaders have spent too much money, so Iowans now want them to cut spending and taxes. Specifically, voters' top priority is creating better-paying jobs. Banning same-sex marriage received just a small fraction of their attention.
Vander Plaats has made banning same-sex marriage a central part of his campaigning. But Gross says that is not the right message for a winning campaign. He said, "Republicans are also social conservatives for the most part. But when you ask the public, do you want a candidate who emphasizes the social issues or economic issues, they'll say they want you to focus on the economic issues. Even the social conservatives will tell you that."
Vander Plaats said he talks to Iowans about other issues like economics. But he said Iowans want to know a candidate's core beliefs to earn their trust and same-sex marriage keeps coming up in their conversations, especially since the Iowa Supreme Court's ruling that allowed same-sex marriage. He said, "Whether you want to talk about it, you're going to have to be very clear about where you stand on this issue."
Gross said he wants to find an alternative candidate to Vander Plaats who has both business and political experience. He said four to five Iowans are "seriously considering" a run. But he declined to say who those might be.
Gross and some allies paid for a statewide survey that shows the majority of Iowans want candidates to focus on money matters over marriage. The survey's results show Iowans believe leaders have spent too much money, so Iowans now want them to cut spending and taxes. Specifically, voters' top priority is creating better-paying jobs. Banning same-sex marriage received just a small fraction of their attention.
Vander Plaats has made banning same-sex marriage a central part of his campaigning. But Gross says that is not the right message for a winning campaign. He said, "Republicans are also social conservatives for the most part. But when you ask the public, do you want a candidate who emphasizes the social issues or economic issues, they'll say they want you to focus on the economic issues. Even the social conservatives will tell you that."
Vander Plaats said he talks to Iowans about other issues like economics. But he said Iowans want to know a candidate's core beliefs to earn their trust and same-sex marriage keeps coming up in their conversations, especially since the Iowa Supreme Court's ruling that allowed same-sex marriage. He said, "Whether you want to talk about it, you're going to have to be very clear about where you stand on this issue."
Gross said he wants to find an alternative candidate to Vander Plaats who has both business and political experience. He said four to five Iowans are "seriously considering" a run. But he declined to say who those might be.
