Vander Plaats dismisses idea of independent run this fall

Bob Vander Plaats‘ concession speech Tuesday night following his defeat in the GOP gubernatorial primary stopped short of an endorsement of his party’s nominee, Terry Branstad. Because of that, and based on previous rumblings that the Sioux City businessman might leave the party if Branstad were victorious, many observers began speculating Wednesday whether an independent run is likely.

In his concession speech, Vander Plaats said he would sit down with Branstad and discuss differences the two men have with a goal to “unify the party around leadership the state of Iowa desperately needs.”

Graham Gillette, who runs a public affairs/communications firm and occasionally blogs for The Des Moines Register, wrote Wednesday that Vander Plaats’ remarks after the results were final proof he’s mulling a fall campaign.

Vander Plaats conceded Branstad won the primary, but Vander Plaats stopped there.  He set the stage for a meeting to discuss differences and said they have a shared purpose to unify the Republican Party.  However, the next line is interesting.  Vander Plaats drops the “we” and says it is his goal, “beyond that,” to unify a state around leadership desperately needed.  If, in Vander Plaats view, Branstad is not able to be the great unifier, look for Vander Plaats to campaign on. …

… If Vander Plaats is not appeased [by his meeting with Branstad] and he feels he can raise the funds to stay in the race, he will announce his independent campaign.  Vander Plaats may run as the alternative to Culver and Branstad by painting them both as incumbents with failed records.  This is a long shot strategy, but as a three time primary loser, Vander Plaats has shown an obstinacy to continue campaigning regardless of the fact the odds are long.

Conservative blogger Shane Vander Hart also wondered if there was an independent run in Vander Plaats future, although he openly hoped it wasn’t going to happen.

I hope he doesn’t run as an independent as that would likely guarantee a Culver win in November.  I don’t think earning 41% of the Republican vote should embolden him to do that.  I find it highly unlikely that he’d draw any Democrats from Culver.  He would basically be running a sabotage campaign.  Also I think he’ll look like a sore loser who couldn’t accept the will of the people.

Speculation that Vander Plaats may run as an independent or third-party candidate if he lost the primary has run rampant since January, when the influential Christian group Iowa Family Policy Center publicly vowed to sit out the campaign if the GOP nominates anyone but Vander Plaats. Several other Republicans, including state Rep. Kent Sorenson of Indianola, joined the pledge. Tuesday night, those groups and individuals restated their position to sit out the fall gubernatorial campaign.

In response to the IFPC’s endorsement, the Linn County Republican Party passed a “loyalty resolution,” calling on each of the gubernatorial candidates to pledge to support the party’s eventual nominee. Vander Plaats was the only candidate to refuse to sign. In an interview with The Iowa Independent, Vander Plaats said he would never sign on to “blind loyalty pledges,” saying the idea “just doesn’t sell to the general voter.” In April, Vander Plaats finally said openly that he wasn’t interested in an independent run.

And Tuesday night, after results came in showing him losing to Branstad, Vander Plaats reiterated that position to The Iowa Independent.

“If I planned an independent run, I wouldn’t be meeting with Gov. Branstad,” he said.