Branstad advierte

El Gobernador Terry Branstad, de Iowa, advierte a los posibles candidatos que no dará su endorsement a nadie que no dedique tiempo y recursos para ganar el caucus del estado. Les aconseja que participen en el straw poll de Ames en agosto y que visiten los 99 condados de Iowa si quieren su endorsement. A Branstad se le considera cercano a Romney porque está rodeado de asesores que en 2008 trabajaron para Romney en el caucus. La advertencia puede ir dirigida al ex Gobernador de Massachusetts para que no caiga en la tentación de pasar de Iowa y concentrarse sólo en New Hampshire.

(...) Incoming Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad has a word of warning for GOP presidential hopefuls: Don’t skip our straw poll if you want my support.

"Not participating is certainly not a very good strategy,” Branstad told WHO-TV in Des Moines. “So I would certainly come and participate.”

(...) Branstad pointed to his five statewide victories as a model for how to win in Iowa.

"I think I've demonstrated how you can win elections in Iowa, and you do it by going to all 99 counties and meeting with a lot of people and articulate a vision and plan for where you want to lead the state, or in this case, the country,” Branstad said.

With his resurgence this year, Branstad also returns to a familiar position — kingmaker of the caucuses — and will be a sought-after endorsement by each candidate. In his own GOP primary this year, Branstad had the backing of several potential presidential candidates, getting support from former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin. But former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee backed the more conservative Bob Vander Plaats, who had been his state chairman during 2008, helping him win the state’s caucuses.

Branstad has indicated this week he’s open to getting behind a candidate, telling Iowa Public Television that he wasn’t “ruling out the possibility down the road that I might consider” an endorsement. Branstad remained neutral when he was governor during the state’s 1988 caucuses but chose to endorse Bob Dole in 1996. (...)