Culver to Iowa labor: I want more for you

CEDAR RAPIDS – Seven hours after he finished debating his Republican challenger, former Gov. Terry Branstad, Gov. Chet Culver sat down to watch the replay with his friends – Sen. Tom Harkin and labor union members.

“You're in for a treat,” Harkin said as he warmed up the crowd of more than 100 at Teamster Halls in Cedar Rapids. “I was there for the debate and you're in for a treat.”

Labor is in for a treat, too, if Culver gets re-elected.

“I want more for you,” Culver, a first-term Democratic, said.

“I'll fight for prevailing wage, for choice of doctor, for fair share,” Culver said, prompting the loudest response of the evening.

He contrasted his support for the union agenda that has been stalled in the Iowa Legislature to Branstad's declaration those proposals are dead on arrival if he's elected to a fifth term as governor.

Culver said he's proud to stand with labor “and because of you, we're going to win.”

Harkin touted new polling, which he said shows Culver's numbers are going up “tick, tick, tick.”

“Chet will be ahead on Election Day and that's the way God intended it to be,” Harkin said.

A sign of his strength, Culver said, is a 9 percentage point lead over Branstad in the 2nd District where, he predicted, U.S. Rep. Dave Loebsack would be re-elected.

A short time later, 2nd District Republican challenger Mariannette Miller-Meeks released a poll showing a 45 percent to 44 percent lead over Loebsack.

Neither Culver nor Miller-Meeks shared their poll data.

Harkin praised Culver's “strong, progressive leadership” that has expanded government social programs, promoted renewable energy and created a budget surplus without raising taxes.

“That's something Terry Branstad can't say,” he added.

Harkin also joked that Branstad's favorite day of the year is Nov. 7.

“That's the day we turn the clock back an hour,” Harkin said, warning union members not to let Branstad turn the clock back 28 years – to 1982 when he was first elected governor - on Nov. 2.

Harkin will join Culver for another campaign event at 9 a.m. Oct. 22 at Iowa Children's Museum, Cityworks Gallery in front of Hospital Exhibit, 1451 Coral Ridge Ave., Coralville, to talk about early childhood education and expanding health care coverage for Iowa's children.