Iowa Public Television

Dean Borg: IOWA'S DEMOCRATIC PARTY HAS A NEW LEADER. WE DISCUSS STATE PARTY POLITICS WITH THE NEW CHAIRWOMAN, DR. SHEILA MCGUIRE-RIGGS OF AMES, ON THIS EDITION OF IOWA PRESS.

Narrator: FUNDING FOR IOWA PRESS HAS BEEN PROVIDED BY FRIENDS OF IOWA PUBLIC TELEVISION; AND BY THE IOWA BANKERS ASSOCIATION... FOR PERSONAL, BUSINESS, AND COMMERCIAL NEEDS, IOWA BANKS HELP IOWANS REACH THEIR FINANCIAL GOALS; BY THE ASSOCIATION OF BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY... THE VOICE OF IOWA BUSINESS, REPRESENTING THE INTERESTS OF OVER 1,500 IOWA BUSINESSES EMPLOYING 300,000 IOWANS; AND BY THE ASSOCIATED GENERAL CONTRACTORS OF IOWA... THE PUBLIC'S PARTNER IN BUILDING IOWA'S HIGHWAY, BRIDGE, AND MUNICIPAL UTILITY INFRASTRUCTURE. THIS IS THE SUNDAY, MARCH 11 EDITION OF IOWA PRESS. HERE IS DEAN BORG.

Borg: SOMETIME LATER THIS SPRING, THE IOWA LEGISLATURE WILL ADOPT NEW VOTING DISTRICTS FOR THE STATE. NOW, THOSE NEW DISTRICTS DESIGNATING BOTH U.S. CONGRESSIONAL AND IOWA STATEHOUSE VOTING BOUNDARIES FOR THE NEXT TEN YEARS ARE PRODUCT OF THE U.S. CENSUS OF 2000. A GENERAL ELECTION OF NOVEMBER 2002 WILL BE THE FIRST ELECTION BASED ON THOSE NEW DISTRICTS. THERE COULD BE SOME SURPRISES. AND MINIMIZING THOSE SURPRISES, OR AT LEAST DEALING WITH THEM, IS THE JOB OF THE STATE PARTIES. ACTUALLY BOTH PARTIES ARE ALREADY PREPARING FOR CAMPAIGNS THAT WILL FIND ALL 100 SEATS IN THE IOWA HOUSE ON THE BALLOT, ALONG WITH 25 OF THE 50 SEATS IN THE IOWA SENATE. ADDITIONALLY, AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL, ALL FIVE IOWA SEATS IN THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES WILL HAVE NEW DISTRICT BOUNDARIES IN THE NEXT ELECTION CYCLE. AND OF COURSE, THERE'S A GUBERNATORIAL CAMPAIGN AND A U.S. SENATE SEAT TO FILL IN THAT ELECTION OF 2002. WELL, LAST WEEK WE QUESTIONED STATE REP. CHUCK LARSON ABOUT THOSE POLITICAL CHALLENGES. HE, OF COURSE, IS THE NEW CHAIR OF THE IOWA REPUBLICAN PARTY. HIS COUNTERPART FOR THE DEMOCRATS JOINS US TODAY. DR. SHEILA MCGUIRE-RIGGS OF AMES, A FORMER CANDIDATE FOR FEDERAL OFFICE HERSELF, IS THE NEW CHAIR OF THE IOWA DEMOCRATIC PARTY, REPLACING ROB TULLY. MADAM CHAIRWOMAN, WELCOME TO IOWA PRESS.

McGuire-Riggs: IT'S GREAT TO BE HERE, DEAN.

Borg: AND ACROSS THE TABLE, STATEHOUSE REPORTERS DAVID YEPSEN OF THE DES MOINES REGISTER AND MIKE GLOVER OF THE ASSOCIATED PRESS.

Glover: MS. RIGGS, LET'S START OFF WITH A GENERAL TOPIC. GIVE US A HEALTH REPORT ON THE IOWA DEMOCRATIC PARTY. HOW HEALTHY IS THE PARTY? WHAT'S THE STATUS?

McGuire-Riggs: WELL, IT'S A VERY EXCITING TIME TO TAKE OVER AS CHAIR OF THE IOWA DEMOCRATIC PARTY. WE'RE AS STRONG AS WE'VE EVER BEEN. MORE PEOPLE VOTED FOR DEMOCRATS LAST CYCLE THAN EVER BEFORE HERE IN IOWA. WE ARE DEBT FREE AND OUR COUNTY PARTIES ARE ALREADY GETTING ORGANIZED FOR THIS EXCITING BALLOT THAT WE HAVE IN 2002.

Glover: WHAT'S YOUR TOP TASK?

McGuire-Riggs: MY TOP TASK IS CANDIDATE RECRUITMENT, MESSAGE DEVELOPMENT, AND THAT INFRASTRUCTURE THAT'S NECESSARY FOR THE GRASS-ROOTS ACTIVITIES.

Yepsen: NATIONALLY YOUR PARTY IS GOING THROUGH A LOT OF CONTROVERSY ABOUT PRESIDENT CLINTON'S PARDONS. HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THAT ISSUE?

McGuire-Riggs: I THINK THAT MAY BE A BELTWAY ISSUE VERY MUCH SO. THE IOWA DEMOCRATS AND IOWA VOTERS I THINK ARE MORE WORRIED ABOUT THE $2-TRILLION TAX CUT THAT BUSH IS TRYING TO RAM THROUGH THE REPUBLICAN CONTROLLED HOUSE AND THE REPUBLICAN CONTROLLED SENATE.

Yepsen: SO YOU DON'T SEE BILL CLINTON AS A DRAG ON THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY IN 2002?

McGuire-Riggs: IT'S REALLY AN ISSUE AROUND PRESIDENT CLINTON. IT'S NOT AN ISSUE AROUND THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY.

Glover: THERE'S A DEBATE WITHIN THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED IN THE LAST PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION. THERE'S ONE CAMP, I'M THINKING THE DEMOCRATIC LEADERSHIP COUNCIL, PEOPLE LIKE THAT, ARGUES THAT GORE LOST BECAUSE HE RAN TO THE LEFT, RAN AWAY FROM THE CLINTON SORT OF CENTRIST RECORD. THERE'S ANOTHER CAMP THAT SAYS THAT THIS SHOWS THAT THE PARTY NEEDS TO NOMINATE SOMEBODY WHO CAN APPEAL TO THE CORE CONSTITUENCIES LIKE LABOR, A MORE LIBERAL CANDIDATE. WHERE DO YOU COME DOWN ON THAT DEBATE?

McGuire-Riggs: WELL, I THINK THAT WHAT WE SAW, A MAJORITY OF IOWANS AND A MAJORITY OF AMERICANS VOTED FOR AN INVESTMENT IN EDUCATION AND INVESTMENT IN SOCIAL SECURITY AND MEDICARE AND PREDESCRIPTION DRUGS FOR OUR SENIORS AND A REASONABLE TARGETED TAX CUT. THAT'S WHAT THE MAJORITY OF AMERICA AND IOWA VOTED FOR THROUGH ELECTORAL COLLEGE. WE HAVE A PRESIDENT WHO HAS A DIFFERENT FOCUS THAN THAT IN PRESIDENT BUSH. I THINK IN THE END, DEMOCRATS WILL DO VERY WELL IN 2002 BECAUSE PRESIDENT BUSH ISN'T PAYING ENOUGH ATTENTION TO WHAT THE MAJORITY OF AMERICANS AND IOWANS REALLY WANTED DONE THIS CYCLE.

Yepsen: SPEAKING OF AL GORE, DOES AL GORE HAVE A RIGHT OF FIRST REFUSAL IN YOUR PARTY'S NOMINATION IN 2004?

McGuire-Riggs: OH, YOU KNOW, IT'S VERY EARLY IN THE NEXT PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION.

Yepsen: BUT THERE ARE SOME DEMOCRATS WHO SAY, BY GOD, HE GOT MORE VOTES, HE GOT THE SHAFT. THERE ARE OTHER DEMOCRATS WHO SAY HE'S HAD HIS TURN, HE'S TOAST. WHERE DO YOU COME DOWN ON THAT DISCUSSION?

McGuire-Riggs: I'M CHAIR FOR THE NEXT TWO YEARS, AND I'LL BE WELCOMING A HOST OF NEW LEADERS INTO IOWA. AND WE HOPE VICE PRESIDENT GORE COMES AND TALKS WITH US AGAIN. WE'RE OPEN TO ALL COMERS.

Glover: THE GIST OF YOUR ANSWER TO DAVE'S QUESTION IS "NO" BECAUSE HE'S ONE OF ALL THE OTHER CONTENDERS WHO MAY BE RUNNING, RIGHT?

McGuire-Riggs: WELL, AS I SAY, I'M CHAIR FOR THE NEXT TWO YEARS AND I'M FOCUSED ON THE 2002 BALLOT AND WILL BE WELCOMING VICE PRESIDENT GORE AND MANY OTHERS IN.

Borg: WELL, IF YOU HAVE HIM IN, IT WILL BE PROBABLY TO RAISE SOME MONEY. WHAT ARE THE PARTY FINANCES LIKE IN IOWA FOR THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY? LAST WEEK THE REPUBLICANS TOLD US THEY'RE IN GREAT SHAPE, NO DEBT.

McGuire-Riggs: YEAH, IT'S THE SAME THING FOR US FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MANY YEARS. CHAIRMAN TULLY LEFT US WITH MONEY IN THE BANK. I'M NOT HANDICAPPED LIKE REPRESENTATIVE LARSON IS. WE'RE AGGRESSIVELY RAISING MONEY AND I'M AGGRESSIVELY SOLICITING MONEY AND WE'RE GOING TO BE VERY HEALTHY.

Borg: WHY DO YOU SAY HE'S HANDICAPPED? BECAUSE HE'S SERVING THE LEGISLATURE RIGHT NOW; IS THAT IT?

McGuire-Riggs: RIGHT. THERE IS CERTAINLY, AS I THINK YOU DISCUSSED LAST WEEK, IF IT'S NOT ILLEGAL, AN APPEARANCE OF INPROPRIETY IF HE WOULD TRY TO RAISE ANY MONEY AS THE CHAIR OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY WHILE HE IS SERVING IN THE STATEHOUSE. THAT LAW WAS PUT INTO EFFECT FOR A REASON. I'M SURE HE WOULDN'T WANT TO BE TAINTED WITH ANY KIND OF BAD DEALINGS IF HE WERE SOLICITING MONEY THROUGH THE SESSION.

Yepsen: LET'S GO THROUGH THAT 2002 BALLOT AND WORK OUR WAY DOWN THROUGH IT. SENATOR HARKIN. HE'S UP FOR REELECTION. THE REPUBLICANS THIS YEAR ARE RUNNING CONGRESSMAN GREG GANSKE AGAINST HIM. HE'S MORE IN THE CENTER. HE'S A MODERATE, ACCORDING TO THE NATIONAL JOURNAL. IN THE PAST, REPUBLICANS HAVE TENDED TO RUN CONSERVATIVE -- RIGHT WINGERS IF YOU WILL -- AGAINST SENATOR HARKIN, AND HE'S BEEN ABLE TO POSITION HIMSELF IN THE CENTER. HOW TOUGH AN OPPONENT DO YOU THINK GREG GANSKE WILL BE? TOUGHER THAN THE OTHER REPUBLICANS THAT HAVE RUN AGAINST SENATOR HARKIN?

McGuire-Riggs: WELL, I'M GOING TO TAKE ISSUE WITH YOUR PREMISE THAT HE IS A MODERATE. Yepsen: THAT'S THE NATIONAL JOURNAL.

McGuire-Riggs: JUST THIS WEEK HE VOTED RIGHT IN STEP WITH THE CONSERVATIVE REPUBLICANS IN THE $2-TRILLION TAX CUT, WHICH IS PUTTING KIDS' FUTURES AT RISK. HE ALSO VOTED AGAINST WORKERS ON THE ERGONOMIC BILL. FOR TEN YEARS THERE HAD BEEN A LOT OF VERY THOUGHTFUL WORK IN TRYING TO DECREASE THE NUMBER OF CARPEL TUNNEL SYNDROME CASES AND LOW BACK PAIN CASES ON THE WORK SITE. IN ONE FELL SWOOP, REPRESENTATIVE GANSKE SIDED WITH BIG BUSINESS AND AGAINST THE WORKERS.

Yepsen: SO YOU DON'T SEE HIM AS A CENTRIST OR A MODERATE?

McGuire-Riggs: HE'S VOTED -- WENT IN ON THE CONTRACT WITH AMERICA WITH GINGRICH. HE VOTED WITH GINGRICH ON ALL THOSE ISSUES.

Yepsen: BUT HE'S FOR PATIENTS BILL OF RIGHTS. HE'S LED THE CAUSE IN THAT.

McGuire-Riggs: WELL, SENATOR HARKIN, OF COURSE, IS A LEADER IN THE PATIENT BILL OF RIGHTS. NOT TO TAKE AWAY FROM THE MERITS OF THE PATIENTS BILL OF RIGHTS, BUT IN ADDITION TO HELPING PATIENTS, IT ALSO HELPS PHYSICIANS. MANY PEOPLE HAVE CALLED IT THE "PHYSICIANS RIGHT TO BILL." AND WHILE HE IS NOT PRACTICING AS A PLASTIC SURGEON RIGHT NOW, HIS WIFE IS STILL A PHYSICIAN, AND IT WILL FINANCIALLY HELP THE GANSKE FAMILY, JUST LIKE THE TAX CUT WILL FINANCIALLY HELP THE GANSKE FAMILY.

Yepsen: ARE YOU WORRIED AT ALL ABOUT TOM HARKIN? IF YOU LOOK AT HIS REELECTION MARGINS THAT CONSISTENTLY HAVE GONE DOWN IN THE NARROWLY WON REELECTION.

McGuire-Riggs: HAVE YOU EVER SEEN A STRONGER FIGHTER IN ANY POLITICAL BATTLE THAN SENATOR HARKIN? WE'RE NOT CONCERNED AT ALL.

Glover: LET'S GO TO THE NEXT RACE ON THE BALLOT, AND THAT'S THE GOVERNOR'S RACE. YOU HAVE THE FIRST DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR IN 30 YEARS FACING HIS FIRST REELECTION NEXT YEAR. DO THE REPUBLICANS HAVE ANYONE WHO CAN BEAT TOM VILSACK?

McGuire-Riggs: THEY DON'T. THEY ARE PUTTING FORTH NAMES THAT ARE REALLY THIRD-TIER NAMES. I FOLLOW POLITICS. I LOVE WATCHING ALL THIS. I'VE GOT TO TELL YOU, IF ANY OF THOSE CANDIDATES WALKED BY ME, I WOULDN'T EVEN KNOW WHO THEY WERE. SO IT'S MORE THAN WHERE GOVERNOR VILSACK STARTED THREE YEARS AGO. IT'S REALLY A WHOLE TIER DOWN FROM THAT. BUT I'LL TELL YOU WHAT HE DOES BRING AND WHAT WE SAW IN THE DES MOINES REGISTER POLL IS THAT TWO OUT OF EVERY THREE IOWANS THINK THE GOVERNOR IS DOING A GREAT JOB. WE HAVE A TRADITION OF REELECTING INCUMBENT GOVERNORS.

Glover: LET'S TALK ABOUT HISTORY AND TRADITION. HISTORY WOULD TEACH US THAT THE MIDTERM ELECTION OF THE FIRST TERM OF A NEW PRESIDENT IS BAD FOR THE PARTY THAT'S IN POWER. DO YOU THINK THAT'S THE DYNAMIC THAT'S UP THIS TIME AROUND, THAT THIS IS JUST GOING TO BE A GOOD ELECTION FOR DEMOCRATS?

McGuire-Riggs: IT CERTAINLY MADE STEPPING UP TO BE CHAIR OF THE IOWA DEMOCRATIC PARTY MUCH EASIER TO DO. WHEN WE HAVE SUCH STRENGTH AT THE TOP OF THE TICKET AND THIS OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL THE REDISTRICTING, THERE ARE NO INCUMBENTS ON THE 2002 BALLOT FOR THE STATEHOUSE AND FOR MEMBERS OF CONGRESS. SO ADD INTO THAT THE TRADITION OF THE TWO YEARS AFTER OUR NEW PRESIDENT COMES IN, HIS PARTY DOES WORSE. WE HAVE TREMENDOUS OPPORTUNITY IN THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY.

Glover: BUT THERE SEEMED TO BE SOME OTHER THINGS THAT HAVE WORKED IN THIS PARTICULAR ELECTION CYCLE. YOU HAVE THE CONTROVERSY ABOUT CLINTON AND HIS PARDONS, WHETHER OR NOT THAT'S A BELTWAY ISSUE OR A NATIONAL ISSUE, IT IS AN ISSUE. BUSH SEEMS TO BE OFF AT THE POLLS, WE'RE TELLING YOU THE SAME THING, TO A RELATIVELY GOOD START. ARE YOU WORRIED THAT THIS HISTORICAL TREND MIGHT NOT BE IN PLACE?

McGuire-Riggs: I THINK WE HAVE TWO KEY THINGS ON OUR SIDE. AGAIN, WE HAVE THE MAJORITY OF THE PEOPLE VOTING DEMOCRATIC IN 2000, SO WE HAVE THAT SET UP. THEN WE HAVE THE MESSAGE ON OUR SIDE. THE DEMOCRATIC AGENDA IS ONE OF STRENGTHENING EDUCATION, GETTING LOWER COST PRESCRIPTION DRUGS FOR SENIORS, CLEANING OUR AIR AND WATER, MEDICARE, SOCIAL SECURITY. ALL THOSE ARE DEMOCRATIC ISSUES AND THAT ARE ON OUR SIDE. WE HAVE THE VOTERS AND WE HAVE THE MESSAGE GOING INTO ALL THESE OPPORTUNITIES.

Yepsen: LAST WEEK ON THIS PROGRAM, YOUR COUNTERPART, CHAIRMAN LARSON, SAID THEY THINK THEY HAVE A SHOT AT TOM VILSACK BECAUSE HIS JOB APPROVAL HAS COME DOWN BY EIGHT POINTS IN THAT POLL THAT YOU CITED. HIS REELECT IS ONLY ABOUT 45 PERCENT. AND SO WHAT IF NOBODY KNOWS ANY OF THE REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES BECAUSE TWO YEARS AGO NOBODY KNEW WHO TOM VILSACK WHAT AT THIS POINT. WHAT DO YOU SAY TO ALL THAT?

McGuire-Riggs: WELL, AGAIN, I JUST GO BACK TO TWO OUT OF THREE IOWANS APPROVE OF HIS JOB. BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, WHEN WE LOOK AT, IT'S JUST KIND OF ALMOST A HOOT LOOKING AT THESE REPUBLICANS AT THE STATEHOUSE AND HOW FOCUSED THEY ARE IN TRYING TO UNDERMINE THE GOVERNOR, REALLY, I THINK IS GOING TO COME BACK TO BITE THEM. THEY HAVE THIS POWER OF BEING IN THE MAJORITY IN THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE, BUT THEY AREN'T DOING ANYTHING CONSTRUCTIVELY WITH IT. IT'S A FOCUS ON DOVES AND ENGLISH-ONLY AND WHAT'S WRITTEN ON A PAMPHLET ABOUT IOWA. IT'S NOT ABOUT WHAT VILSACK HAS LAID OUT IN TERMS OF A VERY THOUGHTFUL PLAN ON ECONOMIC GROWTH AND POPULATION GROWTH; ON THE PRESCRIPTION DRUG PROGRAM THAT GOVERNOR VILSACK AND SENATOR HARKIN DID WORK ON COLLECTIVELY IN A BIPARTISAN WAY TO HAVE LOWER PRESCRIPTION DRUGS FOR SENIORS; THE WORK HE'S DONE IN TESTING OUR LAKES TO REALLY SHOW, FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 30 YEARS, HOW POLLUTED OUR LAKES AND AIR ARE. THOSE THINGS ARE WHAT MATTER TO IOWA FAMILIES. THAT'S WHAT'S GOING TO CARRY HIM OVER VERY EASILY.

Yepsen: ISN'T THAT SO MUCH POLITICS? I MEAN THEY'RE GOING AFTER HIM. IN THE LAST ELECTION, HE WENT AFTER THEM, CALLED REPUBLICAN PLATFORM DRAFTERS "CLOWNS." THEY'RE JUST PAYING HIM BACK, AREN'T THEY? ISN'T THAT SO MUCH POLITICS?

McGuire-Riggs: IF YOU JUST GO BACK TO WHAT A REASONABLE FAMILY DEALS WITH IN THEIR LIFE AND CARES ABOUT IN THEIR LIFE. THEY CARE ABOUT THEIR MOTHER, THEIR GRANDMOTHER'S HIGH PRESCRIPTION DRUG COSTS. THEY CARE ABOUT THE KIDS IN THEIR TOWNS WHO ARE IN AN ABUSIVE SITUATION AND THAT GOVERNOR VILSACK WANTED TO FOCUS ON LOWERING ABUSE. AND THE REPUBLICANS STILL HAVE NOT ADDRESSED THAT IN THE STATEHOUSE.

Glover: IS IT YOUR VIEW THAT THE 2002 ELECTION IS NOW ON AND UP AND RUNNING AND WE JUST WENT FROM ONE ELECTION INTO ANOTHER ONE WITH NO PAUSE?

McGuire-Riggs: WELL, AS CHAIR OF THE IOWA DEMOCRATIC PARTY, IT IS A PROPER ROLE FOR THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY TO BE FOCUSING ON THE ELECTION IN 2002, BUT IT'S THE JOB OF ELECTED LEGISLATORS TO LEGISLATE DURING THIS SESSION. SO WHILE THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY IS IN FULL CAMPAIGN MODE UNDER MY DIRECTION, THE LEGISLATOR SHOULD NOT BE. AND I THINK YOU'RE SEEING GOVERNOR VILSACK AND SENATOR HARKIN REALLY TRYING TO FOCUS ON DOING THE JOB THEY WERE ELECTED TO DO, BUT THE REPUBLICANS ARE BEING SO POLITICALLY MEAN AND NEGATIVE AND NOT LEGISLATING ON THE ISSUES THAT FAMILIES SHOULD CARE ABOUT.

Yepsen: I WANT TO ASK YOU ABOUT SOMETHING THAT WE'VE SEEN IN THE LAST COUPLE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS, AND THAT IS THE GENDER GAP THAT EXISTS. REPUBLICANS HAVE A GENDER GAP WITH WOMEN. THEY NEED TO WORK ON WAYS TO GET THE VOTES OF WOMEN. DEMOCRATS HAVE A GENDER GAP WITH MEN. YOU LOSE THE VOTES OF MEN. WHAT DO YOU PROPOSE THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY DO TO CHANGE ITS MESSAGE OR ITS TACTICS IN ORDER TO ATTRACT MORE VOTES FOR MEN?

McGuire-Riggs: WELL, I THINK AS -- LIKE YOU AS A FATHER OF A DAUGHTER AND A GROWING AWARENESS BY BOTH GENDERS OF FAMILY ISSUES, THE STRUGGLES OF KEEPING OUR SCHOOLS AS BEST AS THEY CAN, OF PROVIDING ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY, OF KEEPING OUR AIR AND WATER CLEAN -- I THINK OUR KEEPING A FOCUS ON THOSE ISSUES CROSSES GENDER LINES. AND AGAIN, JUST KEEPING A FOCUS ON THAT WILL HELP US.

Yepsen: IS THIS A NORMAL STATE OF AFFAIRS? HAVE WE CREATED IN AMERICA A MOMMY PARTY AND A DADDY PARTY?

McGuire-Riggs: OH, I WOULDN'T SAY THAT AT ALL. BUT I TELL THAT THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY DOES STRIVE FOR GENDER BALANCE. WE HAVE SYSTEMATICALLY, IN OUR BYLAWS, LEADERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES FOR MEN AND WOMEN.

Yepsen: EXCUSE ME, I'M THINKING SPECIFICALLY OF THINGS LIKE THE GUN ISSUE. WE KNOW THAT HURT AL GORE IN HIS HOME STATE OF TENNESSEE AND IN WEST VIRGINIA. AS DEMOCRATS OPPOSE GUN OWNERSHIP TO ATTRACT VOTES OF WOMEN, ARE YOU NOT ALIENATING MEN WITH PARTS OF YOUR MESSAGE?

McGuire-Riggs: WELL, I THINK THAT THE REPUBLICANS HAVE DONE A GOOD JOB OF UNDERMINING OUR CENTRIST MESSAGE, PARTICULARLY ON GUNS. IF YOU LOOK AT WHAT VICE PRESIDENT GORE AND OTHERS TALK ABOUT, IT'S REALLY VERY TAILORED AND FOCUSED ISSUES ON GUN -- MAINLY ON GUN SAFETY. AND I THINK THAT PARTICULARLY THE TALK RADIO CIRCUIT, WHICH IS VERY CONSERVATIVELY DRIVEN, MISCHARACTERIZES THE DEMOCRATIC MESSAGE ON THAT.

Borg: CENSUS DATA ARE BEING RELEASED NOW, AND IT'S GOING TO AFFECT IOWANS SOME WAY. WE KNOW THAT. AND I SAID WE CAN EXPECT SURPRISES. WHAT DO YOU EXPECT?

McGuire-Riggs: WELL, WHAT'S EXCITING IS WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE 2000 MAP AND WHERE VICE PRESIDENT GORE WON, THE COUNTIES THAT HE WON, IT'S IN THE URBAN AREAS. IT'S IN THE AREAS OF GROWTH. SO WHEN THE CENSUS NUMBERS COME OUT, I THINK WE'LL SEE THAT, IN FACT, THE POPULATION HAS SHIFTED TO THOSE AREAS, AND THOSE ARE DEMOCRATIC AREAS. SO IT'S A REAL OPPORTUNITY TAKE BACK THE STATEHOUSE, THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE.

Borg: SO YOU THINK THAT THE DISTRICT REDRAWING IS GOING TO FAVOR THE DEMOCRATS BECAUSE OF POPULATION SHIFTS.

McGuire-Riggs: ABSOLUTELY. NOT ONLY BECAUSE OF THE POPULATION SHIFTS, BUT REDISTRICTING ALWAYS HELPS THE MINORITY PARTY.

Glover: MS. RIGGS, LET'S GO BACK TO ANOTHER ELECTION THAT'S ON THE BALLOT, ALTHOUGH THERE'S A WHOLE BUNCH OF ELECTIONS, AND THAT'S THE LEGISLATURE. ARGUABLY IN THE LAST ELECTION, YOU'VE HAD ALMOST EVERYTHING GOING FOR YOU TO TRY AND TAKE BACK THE LEGISLATURE. YOU HAD A PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION YEAR, WHICH DEMOCRATS THINK IS GOOD FOR THEM BECAUSE TURNOUT IS HIGH. YOU HAD A GOVERNOR RUNNING AROUND RAISING MONEY AND CAMPAIGNING FOR LEGISLATIVE CANDIDATES, AND YOU'VE PUT A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF EMPHASIS ON LEGISLATIVE ELECTIONS. YET, YOU MADE NO GAINS. HOW CAN YOU SERIOUSLY ARGUE IN THIS ELECTION CYCLE YOU'RE GOING TO MAKE GAINS WHEN YOU HAD ALL THAT GOING FOR YOU LAST TIME?

McGuire-Riggs: WELL, WE DID SEND NINE NEW DEMOCRATS TO THE STATEHOUSE, SO WE WON SOME BATTLES.

Glover: BUT AS FAR AS THE BREAKDOWN, IT REMAINS EXACTLY THE SAME.

McGuire-Riggs: RIGHT. WELL, WE DID HAVE THE PRESIDENT AT THE TOP OF THE TICKET, BUT THERE WASN'T ANYONE IN BETWEEN. IT VIRTUALLY WENT FROM THE VICE PRESIDENT DOWN TO THE STATE SENATE AND THE STATEHOUSE. AGAIN, FOR THE ISSUES I JUST SAID TO DEAN, WE HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE, ALL THE STATEWIDES ARE ON THE BALLOT THIS YEAR. FOUR OF THE FIVE ARE CURRENTLY DEMOCRATIC, AND THE FIFTH ONE WILL BE AN OPEN SEAT. WE HAVE SENATOR HARKIN AND GOVERNOR VILSACK ON THE BALLOT. THERE WILL BE A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF RESOURCES AND ORGANIZING AT THE COUNTY AND AT THE LOCAL LEVEL. AND YOU THROW IN REDISTRICTING, WHICH REALLY HISTORICALLY FAVORS THE MINORITY PARTY, AND AT A TIME WHEN THE PEOPLE SETTING THE AGENDA IN DES MOINES ARE THE REPUBLICANS. AND THE AGENDA DOES NOT MATCH WHAT IOWANS WANT.

Glover: IS THERE ENOUGH MONEY TO GO AROUND? YOU'VE GOT TOM HARKIN RUNNING FOR REELECTION. HE'S A HUGE FUND-RAISER. YOU'VE GOT TOM VILSACK RUNNING FOR REELECTION. HE'S RAISED A MILLION DOLLARS ALREADY. IS THERE ENOUGH MONEY OUT THERE FOR ALL THESE PEOPLE?

McGuire-Riggs: WELL, MIKE, YOU KNOW, DURING MY DAY JOB, I'M A DATA GEEK. [LAUGHTER] WHAT THE WORLD IS COMING TO IS, YOU CAN GAIN A LOT OF EFFICIENCIES BY JUST A REALLY GREAT INFORMATION SYSTEM, AND GETTING THE INFORMATION TO THE PEOPLE RIGHT WHEN THEY NEED IT. THAT'S GOING TO BE ONE OF MY FOCUSES AT THE STATE PARTY.

Yepsen: I WANT TO GO BACK TO DEAN'S QUESTION ON REAPPORTIONMENT. YOU SAID THE DISTRICT LINES WILL MOVE TOWARD IOWA'S POPULATED AREAS, AND THAT'S CORRECT. BUT IT WILL MOVE TOWARD THE SUBURBAN AREAS, AND THOSE ARE HEAVILY REPUBLICAN. I MEAN, ONE REASON GEORGE W. BUSH CAME SO CLOSE TO BEATING AL GORE IN IOWA WAS THE HUGE VOTE IN THE SUBURBS. SO WHY DO YOU THINK THAT SUBURBAN GROWTH IS GOING TO BE GOOD NEWS FOR LEGISLATIVE DEMOCRATS?

McGuire-Riggs: I WOULDN'T SAY THAT THE SUBURBAN AREAS ARE A GIVEN REPUBLICAN AREA. I THINK, AGAIN, IF YOU LOOK AT THE COUNTIES THAT GORE WON, THEY ARE THE COUNTIES THAT ARE FULL OF ECONOMIC GROWTH AND FULL OF POPULATION GROWTH. THAT'S LETTING THE NUMBERS SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES.

Yepsen: WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO ABOUT THE GREENS? WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO ABOUT RALPH NADER AND HIS PEOPLE? THEY ARE NOW A LEGAL POLITICAL PARTY IN IOWA.

McGuire-Riggs: THAT IS CORRECT. BUT THEY ONLY DID GET 2 PERCENT OF THE VOTE. WE WILL CONTINUE TO REACH OUT TO THEM THROUGH OUR COUNTY PARTY STRUCTURE, GET THEM INVOLVED, REACH OUT TO THEM, AND BRING THEM BACK INTO THE FOLD.

Glover: DOES THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY HAVE TO CHANGE ITS MESSAGE TO REACT TO THESE DEMOGRAPHIC SHIFTS THAT HAVE GONE ON, THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE SUBURBAN AREAS, THE GROWTH IN SUBURBAN IOWA. DO YOU HAVE TO TAILOR YOUR MESSAGE TO ATTRACT THOSE PEOPLE?

McGuire-Riggs: I THINK OUR MESSAGE OF LOWERING PRESCRIPTION DRUG COSTS FOR SENIORS AND LOOKING AT HOW MANY DIFFERENT WAYS WE CAN IMPROVE EDUCATION AND TEACHER PAY AND STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT, HAVING CLEAN AIR AND CLEAN WATER IS A MAJOR AGENDA POINT, IS THE MESSAGE OF SUBURBAN FAMILIES. IT'S THE REPUBLICANS I THINK THAT ARE GOING TO BE IN TROUBLE. THEY SAID THEY WANTED TO FOCUS ON THESE ISSUES, BUT THEIR RHETORIC IS VERY DIFFERENT FROM THEIR ACTIONS IN THE STATEHOUSES THIS YEAR.

Yepsen: I WANT TO KEEP WORKING OUR WAY THROUGH THE 2002 BALLOT. CONGRESS... FIVE CONGRESSIONAL SEATS: FOUR REPUBLICANS AND ONE DEMOCRAT. THE FOURTH DISTRICT WILL COME OPEN BECAUSE CONGRESSMAN GANSKE IS RUNNING AGAINST SENATOR HARKIN. YOU HAVE A SHOT AT TAKING THAT. HOW MANY CONGRESSIONAL SEATS CAN WE EXPECT TO SEE YOU PICK UP?

McGuire-Riggs: WELL, CLEARLY, THE SEAT THAT GANSKE IS VACATING IS A CLEAR OPPORTUNITY. I KNOW THAT THERE ARE MANY STRONG CANDIDATES VYING FOR THAT SEAT. WHILE REPRESENTATIVE LARSON SAID THAT LEACH IS LIKELY GOING TO RUN, HE'S NOT IN THE LEADERSHIP ANYMORE. HE DIDN'T GET HIS CHAIRMANSHIP. HIS BANKING REFORM BILL THAT HE WORKED ON FOR SO LONG HAS ALREADY PASSED. I DON'T REALLY SEE A REAL REASON FOR HIM TO RETURN. HE MAY CHOOSE TO BUT I DON'T KNOW IF THE VOTERS WILL HAVE A REAL REASON TO RETURN HIM, PARTICULARLY IN THE REDISTRICTED DISTRICT.

Yepsen: IN THAT DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY IN THE FOURTH DISTRICT, YOU'VE GOT STATE SENATOR MATT MCCOY AGAINST JOHN NORRIS, VILSACK'S CHIEF OF STAFF. IT WILL BE A GOOD PRIMARY. GIVES YOUR HANDICAP. WHO WINS THAT ONE?

McGuire-Riggs: WELL, WE'RE JUST THRILLED THAT AT LEAST THOSE TWO STRONG CANDIDATES --

Yepsen: I CAN'T GET YOU TO PICK A FAVORITE?

McGuire-Riggs: OH, GOSH, NO.

Glover: YOU CAN ADD TO THE LIST. WHO ELSE IS RUNNING IN THAT DISTRICT?

McGuire-Riggs: WELL, I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE PUTTING UP -- TALKING TO GO STEVE GLEASON, HE MAY JOIN THE FRAY. TOM HENDERSON IS A WONDERFUL CHAIR OF THE POLK COUNTY DEMOCRATIC PARTY. HE'S CONSIDERING IT.

Yepsen: WHAT ABOUT DR. SHEILA MCGUIRE-RIGGS? YOU RAN FOR CONGRESS ONCE. CAN WE EXPECT TO SEE YOU GETTING BACK IN THIS FRAY AT THIS TIME OR IN THE FUTURE?

McGuire-Riggs: I REALLY ASSUME THIS ROLE AS MY CIVIC DUTY. I DID RUN -- IT WAS SEVEN YEARS AGO THAT I WAS ON THE BALLOT IN NORTHWEST IOWA, VERY PROUDLY. I THINK THAT THERE'S A LOT OF ROLES WE ALL SHOULD BE DOING AS CITIZENS --

Yepsen: BUT YOU DON'T HAVE ANY ANNOUNCEMENTS FOR US OR SEND ANY SIGNALS OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT?

McGuire-Riggs: NO, NO. AGAIN, I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT CHAIRING THE IOWA DEMOCRATIC PARTY.

Borg: BUT YOU ARE ONLY LOOKING TWO YEARS IN ADVANCE. I'VE HEARD YOU SAY TWO OR THREE TIMES, "TWO YEARS." WHY ARE YOU SAYING THAT SPECIFICALLY?

McGuire-Riggs: WELL, THE STATE CENTRAL COMMITTEE OF THE IOWA DEMOCRATIC PARTY ELECTED ME FOR A TWO-YEAR TERM, AND I WOULDN'T WANT TO OVERSTEP ANYTHING THAT THEY WOULD CHOOSE TO DO.

Glover: IT WOULDN'T BE AN OFFICIAL IOWA PRESS SHOW IF WE DIDN'T TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT PRESIDENTIAL POLITICS. 2004, WHO HAVE YOU HEARD FROM?

McGuire-Riggs: WELL, AGAIN, WE'RE FOCUSING ON 2002.

Glover: YOU'LL HAVE HELP IN 2002. [LAUGHTER]

McGuire-Riggs: YOU KNOW, SENATOR EDWARDS IS IN. I, UNFORTUNATELY, WAS NOT ABLE TO BE AT HIS EVENT, BUT I HEAR HE DID VERY WELL. I KNOW SENATOR JOHN KERRY BOUGHT A TABLE AT A LINN COUNTY EVENT. I THINK THAT THEY'RE NOT REALLY RAMPING UP VERY QUICKLY, AND WE'RE GLAD -- WE'RE AGAIN FOCUSED ON REELECTING SENATOR HARKIN AND GOVERNOR VILSACK AND TAKING BACK THE STATEHOUSE.

Glover: ARE YOU CONFIDENT NOT ONLY THAT IOWA WILL BE THE LEAD-OFF EVENT IN THE 2004 ELECTION BUT IOWA WILL BE A SIGNIFICANT EVENT IN THE 2004 ELECTION? DO YOU HAVE THOSE COMMITMENTS FROM EVERYONE YOU NEED?

McGuire-Riggs: ABSOLUTELY. WE WILL REMAIN FIRST IN THE NATION. WE WILL KICK OFF THIS PROCESS, AND WE WILL HELP FIND A VERY STRONG DEMOCRAT WHO WILL BEAT PRESIDENT BUSH.

Glover: AND AS CHAIR, YOU WILL BE NEUTRAL?

McGuire-Riggs: YES, YES.

Yepsen: SOME DEMOCRATS THINK BILL BRADLEY SHOULD HAVE BYPASSED IOWA. DO YOU THINK -- JUST LIKE JOHN MCCAIN BYPASSED IOWA ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE. VERY QUICKLY, DO YOU THINK THAT YOU'LL SEE DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES TRYING TO BYPASS THE IOWA CAUCUSES IN 2004?

McGuire-Riggs: I DON'T THINK SO. I THINK THEY'LL LEARN FROM JOHN MCCAIN THAT -- PRESIDENT BUSH ENDED UP THE NOMINEE AND THEN THE PRESIDENT, AND JOHN MCCAIN DIDN'T. SO I DON'T THINK THERE'S MUCH WISDOM IN BYPASSING IOWA. Borg: THANK YOU, DR. RIGGS. NEXT SUNDAY, IOWA PRESS TAKES A BREAK FROM ITS 2000/2001 SCHEDULE. WE'LL BE BACK ON SUNDAY, MARCH 25. AT THAT TIME... AT BOTH NOON AND 7:00. AS YOU'VE NOTED BY NOW, WE'RE RIGHT IN THE MIDST OF OUR ANNUAL "FRIENDS FESTIVAL." ON BEHALF OF IOWA PUBLIC TELEVISION, WE'VE APPRECIATED YOUR GENEROUS RESPONSE. IOWA PRESS IS NOW IN ITS 30TH SEASON HERE ON IOWA PUBLIC TELEVISION. AND DURING FESTIVAL 2001, ALL OF US ASSOCIATED WITH THIS WEEKLY PROGRAM WANT YOU TO KNOW HOW VERY MUCH YOUR SUPPORT IS NEEDED AND APPRECIATED. IF YOU HAVEN'T YET PLEDGED YOUR SUPPORT THIS YEAR, WE INVITE YOU TO MAKE THAT INVESTMENT IN HIGH-QUALITY PROGRAMMING RIGHT NOW. ON BEHALF OF FRIENDS OF IOWA PUBLIC TELEVISION, WHO SUPPORT QUALITY, LOCALLY PRODUCED PROGRAMMING, THANK YOU. I HOPE YOU'LL WATCH NEXT SUNDAY AT NOON AND 7:00. THAT IS -- NOT NEXT SUNDAY, SUNDAY, MARCH 25. I'LL CORRECT MYSELF. UNTIL THEN, I'M DEAN BORG. THANKS FOR JOINING US TODAY.