Exit, Stage Right
For the benefit of our out-of-state readers, we thought we thought we should post on Dr. Chuck Allison dropping out of the Secretary of State's race. This is the big news around Iowa Republican circles this morning. Allison defeated Bob Dopf in the Primary, Dopf campaign was run by Frist staffer Marcus Branstad.
Allison said in a statement "After much thought and prayer I have decided not to continue my campaign for Secretary of State." etc. etc. etc. The real reasons for Allison's departure are unknown, but speculation obviously centers around health or personal issues.
Allison said in a statement "After much thought and prayer I have decided not to continue my campaign for Secretary of State." etc. etc. etc. The real reasons for Allison's departure are unknown, but speculation obviously centers around health or personal issues.
posted by Caucus Cooler at 7/27/2006
15 Comments:
Pate 75 percent sure he'll accept
Published: 07/27/2006 4:54 PM
By: James Q. Lynch - The Gazette
CEDAR RAPIDS, IA - Nearly seven months after leaving office, former Cedar Rapids Mayor Paul Pate may put his name on the ballot again.
He is "about 75 percent sure'' he will accept the Republican nomination for Secretary of State if party leaders ask him to run, Pate told The Gazette this afternoon.
The Republican Party of Iowa is scrambling to replace Chuck Allison, the winner of the June primary, who dropped out of the race citing personal reasons.
In Pate, the party would have a candidate with experience as an officeholder and as a campaigner. Pate is a former state senator and served as secretary of state for four years before making a bid for the nomination for governor.
He was encouraged to run for secretary of state when the incumbent, Democrat Chet Culver, decided to run for governor rather than seek re-election. Pate passed at that time, but said today that the idea of a shorter campaign has some appeal.
So he's discussing the campaign with family and party leaders and expects to make a decision soon. The party has until Aug. 18 to put a candidate on the ballot for the Nov. 7 election.
"My tendency is, if I run, is to run to win,'' Pate, 47, said. "Whatever I get involved in, I give 110 percent, so I want to make sure I can do that.''
Party sources say Pate has the backing of influential leaders, including former Gov. Terry Branstad. Pate said he had been encouraged today by legislative leaders as well as former party chairmen.
"Their support is there and that's appreciated,'' he said. "My wife and family have to be there with me, too, so we'll be weighing those things over the next few days.''
Republicans say Pate would be a strong opponent for Democrat Mike Mauro, the Polk County auditor.
Pate has demonstrated he can handle the job. He also has name identification across the state and knows how to campaign and raise campaign funds.
Robert Dopf, Allison's opponent in the June primary, has told party officials he would be interested in the race.
However, party sources, including some of those who were mentioned as replacements for Allison, say leaders are lining up behind Pate.
Rep. Bill Dix, a Shell Rock farmers who made a bid for the GOP nomination in U.S. House 1st District, is said to be considering the race. He has not returned phone calls.
To be on the ballot, Pate would have to be selected by the party's State Central Committee, which, according to party spokeswoman Sarah Sauber, is considering several possible candidates.
The party committee is likely to make a decision in the next two weeks, Sauber said.
Pate, who completed four years as Cedar Rapids mayor in 2005, served as a state senator and then as secretary of state in the 1990s before making a bid for the GOP nomination for governor in 1998. He also operates a small asphalt company, Pate Asphalt Systems.
Whether it's Pate's name or not on the ballot, Sauber said Republicans believe the open seat is an "opportunity seat'' for the party.
"We've always had a focus on this race because with (Chet) Culver running for governor, it's an open seat,'' she said. "There are also some clear issues, some problems in this office, so since Day 1 we believed it was an opportunity for us. We will continue with that approach.''
Allison's resignation is not a fatal blow, Sauber said. Many voters haven't made any decision on who they would vote for in the race, which has not received the same level of attention as the governor's race.
Pate is a tool.
Dix would be a much better candidate than pate but who cares, at this point it seems to be a lost cause. Dix would have to raise an insane amount of money to be viable
and pate wouldn't?
My point was Pate is not viable no matter what he does. Dix could be viable, only if he raised an insane amount of money. Poorly worded on my part, sorry.
Well,
Gov. Branstad, Stew Iverson, Brian Kennedy, Gentry Collins, Iowa GOP and state central committee say you are wrong.
I'm going to assume they are right and you are just an another anon with an axe to grind.
STOP HATE - VOTE REPUBLICAN!
You honestly think Paul Pate can beat Michael Mauro. Honestly. Just take 3 minutes, breathe and look inside yourself. Ask yourself. Can Paul Pate defeat Michael Mauro.
What answer did you come up with?
Who outside of Polk knows who Mauro is? Those who do know the Mauro name attribute it to CIETC and his being ivestigated by the feds for "election irregularites" in '98.
Did you know that Mauro had over 500 write-in votes against him in the democratic primary JUST IN POLK COUNTY? Sounds like bitter/pissed off Gene Philips supporters to me.
To put things in perspective, Nussle had about 100 write-ins against him STATEWIDE.
Sounds like Mikey is none too popular at home.
Mauro welcomed any new opponent to the race. "No matter who they get (to replace Allison), I am the best qualified for the job. I've campaigned for well over a year," Mauro said.
Sooooo campaigning equates actual experience?
I guess you Iowans are wasting your time talking about who to support for president because its clear that I'm the most qualified candidate having campaigned for nearly 30 years. I'll expect to see a press release with Mauro's endorsement soon.
Even though I support Paul Pate, I am curious as to how the poster above knows how the central committee is voting. I know several members and their lips are sealed.
hmmm... Know several committee members I do as well...
All supporting Pate they are....
perhaps that is what they tell you to your face Yoda.....they know you are buds.
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