Iowa Public Television

Borg: THE 2002 GENERAL ELECTION IS HISTORY, BUT ASSESSMENTS OF WHY AND THE POLICY IMPLICATIONS CONTINUE. WE'LL GET OPINION FROM REPUBLICAN MIKE MAHAFFEY AND DEMOCRAT JERRY CRAWFORD ON THIS EDITION OF "IOWA PRESS."

ANNOUNCER: FUNDING FOR "IOWA PRESS" WAS PROVIDED BY "FRIENDS," THE IOWA PUBLIC TELEVISION FOUNDATION;

BY THE IOWA BANKERS ASSOCIATION... FOR PERSONAL, BUSINESS, AND COMMERCIAL NEEDS, IOWA BANKS HELP IOWANS REACH THEIR FINANCIAL GOALS; BY THE ASSOCIATED GENERAL CONTRACTORS OF IOWA... THE PUBLIC'S PARTNER IN BUILDING IOWA'S HIGHWAY, BRIDGE, AND MUNICIPAL UTILITY INFRASTRUCTURE; AND BY IOWA NETWORK SERVICES AND YOUR LOCAL INDEPENDENT TELEPHONE COMPANY... IOWA NETWORK SERVICES, YOUR CLOSEST CONNECTION.

ON STATEWIDE IOWA PUBLIC TELEVISION, THIS IS THE FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 22 EDITION OF "IOWA PRESS." HERE IS DEAN BORG.

Borg: POLITICAL CAMPAIGNS AND ELECTIONS EXPRESS PERSONALITIES AND ISSUES THE CANDIDATES HOPE WILL ATTRACT VOTERS. AFTER THE ELECTIONS THE POLICY IMPLICATIONS BECOME SPECULATION. NOVEMBER 5'S STUNNING REPUBLICAN SHOWING CONTINUES TO REVERBERATE. SOME SEE A MANDATE. STARTING IN 2003 REPUBLICANS WILL HOLD MAJORITY STATUS IN CONGRESS AND THE IOWA LEGISLATURE. WHAT THAT MEANS IS, THOUGH, OPEN TO SPECULATION. TO HELP US SPECULATE, JOINING US ARE TWO POLITICAL INSIDERS WHO JOINED US DURING THE CAMPAIGN SEASON TO PREVIEW THE ELECTION OF 2002, AND THEY'RE BACK AGAIN TODAY NOW TO ANALYZE THE RESULTS. WE'RE GOING TO HOLD THEIR FEET TO THE FIRE. MONTEZUMA ATTORNEY MIKE MAHAFFEY IS A FORMER CHAIR OF THE IOWA REPUBLICAN PARTY, ALSO A FORMER U.S. CONGRESSIONAL CANDIDATE. DES MOINES ATTORNEY JERRY CRAWFORD HAS LED POLK COUNTY DEMOCRATS, AND HE ALSO SERVED IN THE PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGNS FOR WALTER MONDALE, MICHAEL DUKAKIS, BILL CLINTON, AND AL GORE. GENTLEMEN, WELCOME BACK TO "IOWA PRESS."

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

Borg: I'LL THROW THE QUESTION OUT TO ALL FOUR OF YOU HERE AT THE TABLE AND DIRECT IT FIRST OF ALL TO YOU, JERRY. I SAID STUNNING REPUBLICAN VICTORY. YOU'RE A DEMOCRAT BUT I THINK IT'S REALLY OPEN TO SPECULATION. WAS THERE A CLEAR WINNER?

Crawford: WELL, I THINK IN IOWA, THERE WAS NO CHANGE. IF YOU LOOK AT THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE, IF YOU LOOK AT THE UNITED STATES SENATE, IF YOU LOOK AT THE CONGRESSIONAL OFFICES, IF YOU LOOK AT CONTROL OF BOTH HOUSES, I THINK YOU COULD MAKE A PRETTY STRONG CASE THAT ALL THAT HAPPENED WAS THAT WE SUBJECTED THE PUBLIC TO MONTHS OF UNCONSCIONABLE TELEVISION COMMERCIALS TO NO END, BECAUSE NONE OF THOSE OFFICES OR HOUSES CHANGED CONTROL. NATIONALLY I THINK YOU HAVE TO GIVE PRESIDENT BUSH A LITTLE CREDIT. HE TIPPED SOME CLOSE RACES AT THE END, BUT THIS WAS NOT A WAVE ELECTION WHERE A NATIONAL TREND DEVELOPED IN ONE DIRECTION OR THE OTHER. THERE WERE NO BIG UPSETS.

Borg: MIKE GLOVER, AS YOU COVERED, THOUGH, DO YOU SEE BOTH PARTIES SORT OF TAKING CREDIT HERE AND SAYING "WE GOT SOME POSITIVES OUT OF THIS"?

Glover: WELL, I THINK BOTH PARTIES CAN TAKE SOME CREDIT FROM THIS ELECTION. IF I'M A DEMOCRAT, I CAN SAY WE REELECTED A DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR WHO WE THOUGHT SIX MONTHS AGO WAS IN DEEP TROUBLE. WE REELECTED A DEMOCRATIC UNITED STATES SENATOR, WHO GOT A STIFF SIGNIFICANT CHALLENGE FROM A REPUBLICAN CONGRESSMAN. SO THE TOP TWO HEADLINE RACES OF THE YEAR DEMOCRATS WON. ON THE OTHER HAND, IF I'M A REPUBLICAN, I'D SAY, "I HAD A PRETTY GOOD YEAR TOO. I HAVE FOUR REPUBLICAN MEMBERS OF CONGRESS. I CONTROL BOTH CHAMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE." IT WAS A REDISTRICTING YEAR, A PRIME YEAR THAT TOOK CONTROL OF THE LEGISLATURE. AND AFTER THE 1980 CENSUS, AFTER THE 1990 CENSUS, THE LEGISLATURE CHANGED CONTROL BOTH TIMES. REPUBLICANS HELD IT. SO I THINK BOTH PARTIES HAVE SOMETHING TO POINT TO. I THINK THE POINT THAT JERRY MADE ABOUT UNCONSCIONABLE TELEVISION WAS PERHAPS THE MOST SIGNIFICANT POINT. I REMEMBER WAKING UP THE MORNING AFTER THE ELECTION AND SAYING "WHAT WAS OF THE POINT? WHY DID WE DID THIS?" I MEAN NOTHING CHANGED. NOTHING HAPPENED.

Borg: DO YOU SEE ANY CHANGES COMING OUT OF IT BECAUSE OF WHAT MIKE SAID HERE?

Mahaffey: I HAD THE CHANCE TO TALK, THE NEXT DAY AFTER THE ELECTION, TO AN ATTORNEY IN BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, AND I TOLD HIM I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE A GOOD WEEK FOR PEOPLE TO DIE IN MARYLAND. AND HE SAID, "WHY?" I SAID, "BECAUSE HELL OBVIOUSLY HAS FROZEN OVER. YOU ELECTED A REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR WHO BEAT BOBBY KENNEDY'S DAUGHTER." HAVING SAID THAT, I THINK MIKE IS RIGHT IN TERMS OF IOWA; BOTH PARTIES CAN TAKE SOME SOLACE, IF YOU WILL, AND SOME CREDIT FOR SOME THINGS THAT HAPPENED. THE BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT FOR THE REPUBLICANS WAS THE GOVERNORSHIP. YOU KNOW, THE GOVERNOR IS THE 800-POUND GORILLA IN IOWA POLITICS, AND THE DEMOCRATS HELD THAT POSITION. THE BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT FOR THE DEMOCRATS, THE CONGRESSIONAL RACES. IT'S STILL FOUR TO ONE. AND BY THE WAY, JERRY, THOSE THAT BOOKED JOHN NORRIS'S VICTORY ARE SCRAMBLING FOR RESERVATIONS HERE AT THE HOLIDAY SEASON.

Yepsen: I'M CURIOUS, MIKE, WHY THIS HAPPENED. I THINK BOTH PARTIES -- AS I TALK TO PEOPLE IN BOTH PARTIES, THERE'S KIND OF A LETDOWN. IF YOU TALK TO REPUBLICANS TODAY, THEY'LL SAY JUST WHAT YOU SAID. I MEAN, "GEE, I WISH WE COULD HAVE TAKEN THE GOVERNORSHIP AND THE SENATE" AND "WHY DIDN'T WE DO THAT?" IF YOU TALK TO DEMOCRATS, IT'S LIKE, "WELL, WHY DIDN'T WE GET AT LEAST ONE CONGRESSIONAL SEAT? WHY DIDN'T WE GET SOMETHING IN THE LEGISLATURE?" BOTH PARTIES ARE HAVING SOME REVERBERATIONS OVER THAT. BUT, MIKE, I'M CURIOUS WHY DID REPUBLICANS FAIL TO TAKE THE GOVERNORSHIP? WHY DID THEY FAIL TO KNOCK OFF TOM HARKIN?

Mahaffey: YOU KNOW, DAVID, YOU AND MIKE BOTH IN YOUR COLUMNS HAVE ALLUDED TO THIS IN THE PAST. IT WAS VERY INTERESTING. I THINK IN THESE SOMEWHAT UNCERTAIN TIMES, WHEN YOU LOOK AT IT, THIS WAS AN ELECTION WHERE THE MORE THINGS CHANGE, THE MORE THINGS STAY THE SAME. THERE WAS AN OPPORTUNITY -- AND LET ME SAY THIS. I THINK DOUG GROSS RAN A GOOD CAMPAIGN. HE RAISED A LOT OF MONEY. HE WAS SMART. HE WAS ARTICULATE. JERRY AND I TALKED BEFOREHAND; THAT LAST DEBATE THAT TOOK PLACE, I BELIEVE HERE AT YOUR STUDIOS, WAS A TERRIFIC GUBERNATORIAL DEBATE. THOSE WERE TWO HEAVYWEIGHTS GOING 15 ROUNDS. IN THE FINAL ANALYSIS, I THINK PEOPLE LIKE TOM VILSACK AND THEY DECIDED TO TRUST HIM WITH ANOTHER FOUR YEARS. HE WAS THE INCUMBENT. TOM HARKIN, MAYBE NOT QUITE AS LIKABLE A GUY BUT, AT THE TIME, HAD BROUGHT HOME THE BACON, IF YOU WILL, TO IOWA AND HAD USED HIS SENIORITY TO A SIGNIFICANT EXTENT. AND I JUST THINK THAT INCUMBENTS -- IT'S TOUGH IN IOWA TO BEAT INCUMBENTS. YOU'VE SAID THAT BEFORE. SO HAVE YOU, MIKE. AND I THINK THAT'S TRUE.

Yepsen: JERRY, LET'S FLIP THE QUESTION AROUND. WHY NOT SOMETHING IN CONGRESS? WHY NOTHING IN THE LEGISLATURE? YOU WON THE TOP OF THE TICKET, AND THAT WAS IT.

Crawford: WELL, FIRST OF ALL, I THINK THAT IN THE CONGRESSIONAL RACES, LIKE IN THE GOVERNOR'S RACE, WE HAD SOME VERY HEAVYWEIGHT CAMPAIGNS, SOME VERY GOOD CAMPAIGNS. OBVIOUSLY THE REPUBLICANS RAN GOOD CAMPAIGNS; THEY WON. BUT I WOULD ARGUE THAT WE FEEL THAT THE BEST SET OF CHALLENGERS IN THE HISTORY OF OUR PARTY, THAT THEY RAN THE BEST CAMPAIGNS IN THE HISTORY OF OUR PARTY. AND IT SPEAKS TO THE DIFFICULTY OF BEATING AN INCUMBENT, PARTICULARLY YOUR FIRST TIME OUT. THE ONE RACE WE SHOULD HAVE WON WITHOUT ANY QUESTION WAS THE NORRIS/LATHAM RACE. THAT RACE CLOSED THREE WEEKS OR SO BEFORE THE ELECTION TO 43 TO 38. THE PROBLEM WAS THAT THE DEMOCRATIC CONGRESSIONAL CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE HAD FAILED TO DO WHAT THE REPUBLICAN COMMITTEE HAD ALREADY DONE, AND THAT WAS BUY TELEVISION TIME FOR THE LAST THREE WEEKS OF THE RACE. SO WHEN THEY FINALLY DECIDED THEY NEEDED TO DO IT BECAUSE NORRIS WAS GOING TO WIN THE RACE, THERE WAS NO TIME LEFT AVAILABLE; IT WAS ALL PURCHASED. AND AS YOU KNOW, DAVID, THERE'S NO EQUAL TIME PROVISION THAT APPLIES TO NATIONAL PARTY PURCHASE. AND SO, BANG, NORRIS GOT BURIED 10 TO 1, 12 TO 1 IN TELEVISION COMMERCIALS IN THE LAST THREE WEEKS. HE WOULD HAVE WON THAT RACE, I BELIEVE, WITH EQUAL SPENDING DOWN THE STRETCH.

Glover: DOES THIS MEAN, THEN, THAT SINCE YOU THREW HEAVYWEIGHT CONTENDERS AT THESE CONGRESSIONAL SEATS IN A REDISTRICTING YEAR WHEN THERE WAS A NEW DISTRICT AND SOME PRETTY FAVORABLE DISTRICTS, DOES THIS MEAN THAT THOSE INCUMBENT REPUBLICAN CONGRESSMEN ARE THERE UNTIL THEY DECIDE TO RETIRE? CAN YOU REALISTICALLY SAY TO JULIE THOMAS, "OKAY, TRY IT AGAIN IN TWO YEARS"?

Crawford: I THINK THEY SHOULD ALL TRY IT AGAIN IN TWO YEARS. THAT WOULD BE MY COUNSEL TO THEM. A YEAR AGO NO ONE HAD EVER HEARD OF ANN HUTCHINSON OTHER THAN IN BETTENDORF WHERE SHE WAS THE MAYOR; JULIE THOMAS, OTHER THAN PEOPLE WHO WERE PATIENTS IN CEDAR RAPIDS IN HER MEDICAL PRACTICE; OR JOHN NORRIS, OTHER THAN INSIDERS. INSIDERS DIDN'T EVEN KNOW VERY MUCH ABOUT JULIE THOMAS AND ANN HUTCHINSON. SO I THINK WITH THE BASE THEY'VE ACHIEVED, WITH THE FACT THAT THEY EXECUTED GOOD CAMPAIGNS, THEY SHOULD TRY AGAIN.

Borg: MIKE, YOU'VE GOT A COMMENT.

Mahaffey: THE INTERESTING THING IS THAT THREE TO FOUR WEEKS OUT FROM THIS ELECTION, I THINK IF THERE WAS ONE PARTY MORE NERVOUS THAN THE OTHER, IT WAS THE REPUBLICAN PARTY. HAVING SAID THAT, JERRY -- AND YOU DID FIELD SOME VERY GOOD CANDIDATES, BUT LOOK AT THE MARGINS IN THOSE RACES. NONE OF THEM WERE AS CLOSE AS ANTICIPATED. EVEN JIM LEACH WON BY 6 PERCENTAGE POINTS. EVERYBODY THOUGHT THAT WAS GOING TO GO 1 OR 2 PERCENTAGE POINTS. JIM LEACH CARRIES LINN COUNTY; HE CARRIES JOHNSON COUNTY. NUSSLE WINS EVERY COUNTY; HE WINS BY 13, 14 PERCENTAGE POINTS. LATHAM, I THINK, CARRIES EVERY COUNTY; HE WINS BY 13 PERCENTAGE POINTS. LEONARD BOSWELL, HIS CREDIT IN A TOUGH RACE, WINS BY 8 OR 9 PERCENTAGE POINTS. THEY WEREN'T EVEN AS CLOSE AS ANTICIPATED.

Yepsen: WELL, JULIE THOMAS ARGUABLY PEAKED TOO SOON. SHE CAME CLOSE AND THEN THE REPUBLICANS FINALLY LAUNCHED A COUNTERATTACK.

Crawford: I DON'T THINK IT HAD ANYTHING TO DO WITH HER CAMPAIGN, AND I DON'T THINK IT HAD ANYTHING TO DO WITH LEACH'S CAMPAIGN. I THINK IT HAD TO DO WITH FOREIGN POLICY AND INTERNATIONAL EVENTS. WHEN JIM LEACH CAST THAT VOTE AGAINST THE PRESIDENT ON IRAQ, I STARTED GETTING TELEPHONE CALLS FROM DEMOCRATS IN THAT DISTRICT SAYING, "WE CANNOT ABANDON THIS GUY, WE'VE GOT TO VOTE FOR HIM."

Yepsen: MIKE, FOLLOW UP WITH --

Mahaffey: AND JIM LEACH IS JIM LEACH TOO. WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THAT BEFORE.

Yepsen: A FOLLOW-UP QUESTION IS THE REPUBLICAN ABSENTEE BALLOT. YOU GUYS GOT YOUR CLOCK CLEANED. NOW, IS THE REPUBLICAN PARTY GOING TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THAT, OR ARE WE JUST GOING TO CONSTANTLY ALLOW DEMOCRATS TO GET ABOUT, WHAT, 80,000 MORE ABSENTEE BALLOTS IN THE STATE CAST THAN YOU GUYS?

Mahaffey: WELL, THEY BETTER BECAUSE IN SOME ELECTIONS TO COME, THAT COULD HURT US MORE THAN IT DID THIS TIME. BUT IT DID HURT IN CERTAIN COUNTIES. LINN COUNTY, FOR EXAMPLE, I WAS TALKING TO A CANDIDATE FOR COUNTY ATTORNEY OVER THERE. WE STARTED OUT WITH, LIKE, A 3- TO 4,000-VOTE DISADVANTAGE IN TERMS OF ABSENTEE BALLOTS. THE DEMOCRATS -- LET'S FACE IT, THE IOWA DEMOCRATIC PARTY IS ONE OF THE BEST, IF NOT THE BEST, STATE PARTIES IN THE NATION. AND THE REPUBLICANS ARE A GOOD PARTY ALSO, BUT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO GET BETTER AND WE'RE CERTAINLY GOING TO HAVE TO GET BETTER AT ABSENTEE BALLOTS. THAT WAS TRUE IN POWESHIEK COUNTY, WHICH TENDS TO BE A SWING COUNTY, AND THE DEMOCRATS WERE JUST ALL OVER THE PLACE IN ABSENTEE BALLOTS.

Glover: JERRY, LET'S BE A LITTLE PROSPECTIVE HERE. WE'VE HAD AN ELECTION. WE'VE SEEN THE RESULTS. WHAT'S THE MANDATE? WHAT'S THE MESSAGE? IF I'M AN ELECTED OFFICIAL, WHAT MESSAGE DO I TAKE IN THE ELECTORATE THIS TIME?

Crawford: WELL, I THINK IT DEPENDS ON THE RACE THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT.

Glover: OKAY. LET'S SAY I'M A GOVERNOR TOM VILSACK. WHAT'S MY MANDATE?

Crawford: I THINK THAT HIS MESSAGE WAS CONSISTENTLY HOPE AND OPPORTUNITY. AND I THINK THAT'S THE WAY HE WILL GOVERN IN THE NEXT FOUR YEARS, FOCUSING LIKE A LASER ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND ON EDUCATION, PERHAPS IN THAT ORDER. I THINK THAT'S WHAT HE WILL VIEW AS HIS MANDATE, HAVING ADVOCATED HOPE AND OPPORTUNITY. HE WAS THE POSITIVE FORCE IN THAT CAMPAIGN.

Borg: WHAT DO YOU THINK, DAVE, AS A COLUMNIST AS YOU ANALYZE THAT? WAS THERE A MANDATE AND, PARTICULARLY, AS JERRY JUST SAID HERE, IN THE GOVERNOR'S RACE?

Yepsen: NO, I DON'T THINK EITHER PARTY WON A MANDATE. I THINK WHEN YOU RUN A CAMPAIGN AS NEGATIVE AS THESE POLITICIANS DID, WHAT THEY REALLY DID WAS THEY FORCED THEIR OPPONENT TO LOSE. I DON'T THINK TOM VILSACK GETS A MANDATE OUT OF THIS. HE TRASHED DOUG GROSS. THIS WAS ABOUT DOUG GROSS. THIS WAS ABOUT HOG LOT LAWYERS, AND IT WAS NOT ABOUT TOM VILSACK. EVERYBODY IS FOR EDUCATION AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN IOWA, JERRY. I MEAN THAT'S LIKE MOTHERHOOD, APPLE PIE, AND THE FLAG. BUT BY THE SAME TOKEN, I DON'T THINK REPUBLICANS -- THEY'RE STILL A PARTY BASICALLY CONTROLLED BY A LOT OF MOSSBACKS, AND THEY'RE JUST SORT OF THE "JUST SAY NO PARTY" AND "THE VILSACK LIGHT PARTY." YOU'RE ALREADY SEEING IT HAPPEN IN THE LEGISLATURE. VILSACK HAS GOT AN IDEA OUT THERE, REPUBLICANS ARE SAYING, "YES, BUT LESS OF." AND SO I DON'T THINK ANYBODY TAKES A MANDATE.

Mahaffey: I THINK YOU'RE RIGHT, DAVID. I DON'T THINK THERE IS ANY MANDATE RIGHT NOW. AND THE OTHER INTERESTING THING TO WATCH IN POLITICS IN THE NEXT FEW YEARS IN IOWA IS I DON'T THINK WE REALLY HAVE A MAJORITY PARTY IN THE STATE OF IOWA. AND THE QUESTION IS WHICH PARTY IS GOING TO DO WHAT IS NECESSARY TO ATTEMPT TO BECOME THAT MAJORITY PARTY. THAT WILL BE INTERESTING TO WATCH.

Glover: I THINK WE HAVE A MAJORITY PARTY; IT'S CALLED INDEPENDENTS.

Mahaffey: I'D AGREE WITH THAT.

Glover: LET'S LOOK AGAIN PROSPECTIVELY IN THE FUTURE. TOM VILSACK WON A FAIRLY CONVINCING GUBERNATORIAL ELECTION. HE SAID THIS IS IT. THE SECOND TERM IN THE LAST ONE. GIVE ME YOUR REPUBLICAN GUBERNATORIAL BENCH. WHO HAVE HAVE YOU GOT THERE?

Mahaffey: WELL, YOU KNOW, I HAVE HEARD --

Glover: MIKE MAHAFFEY MAYBE?

Mahaffey: I HAVEN'T HEARD THAT NAME. IT'S KIND OF YOU TO MENTION IT, BUT I'VE HEARD THAT DOUG GROSS -- I DON'T KNOW AS I AM. I'VE HEARD DOUG GROSS PERHAPS AGAIN. YOU HEAR DAVID OMAN. THE NAME I'VE HEARD MORE SINCE THE ELECTION THAT YOU HADN'T HEARD BEFORE WAS THAT OF JIM NUSSLE. HE'S GOING TO BE TERM LIMITED OUT OF THE CHAIR OF THE BUDGET COMMITTEE, AND THERE'S SOME TALK HE MAYBE WOULD LIKE TO COME BACK. YOU'VE HEARD TOM LATHAM'S NAME ALSO. SO THOSE ARE SOME OF THE NAMES THAT YOU HEAR. I'M SURE THERE WILL BE SOME OTHER NAMES THAT WILL BE OUT THERE TOO.

Glover: JERRY, YOU WON'T HAVE AN INCUMBENT GOVERNOR THE NEXT TIME AROUND. WHAT'S YOUR BENCH LOOK LIKE?

Crawford: WELL, IN TERMS OF NOT HAVING --

Glover: DO YOU WANT ME TO FLOAT YOUR NAME TO KEEP IT IN THE ELECTION? [ LAUGHTER ]

Crawford: NO, I DON'T ACTUALLY. THE RECENT RECORD OF LAWYERS FROM DES MOINES RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR HAS NOT BEEN STELLAR. [ LAUGHTER ] WITH REGARD TO NOT HAVING AN INCUMBENT GOVERNOR NEXT TIME, I UNDERSTAND AND RESPECT WHAT THE GOVERNOR HAS SAID. BUT I WOULD JUST POINT OUT THAT FOUR YEARS IS AN AWFUL LONG TIME. A PERSON WITH INCREDIBLE INTEGRITY LIKE PAUL WELLSTONE FOUND HIS WAY TO A CHANGE OF HEART ON THAT ISSUE, AND WHO KNOWS WHAT COULD HAPPEN.

Yepsen: SO IF YOU'RE GOING TO FLOAT THAT TRIAL BALLOON OUT HERE, THEN SHOULD REPUBLICANS CHANGE THEIR -- THE WAY THEY COME AT TOM VILSACK IN THE LEGISLATURE? UP TO THIS POINT WE HAVE TAKEN TOM VILSACK AT HIS WORD THAT HE IS NOT A CANDIDATE. HE HAS SAID THAT REPEATEDLY. ASSUMING THAT'S TRUE, REPUBLICANS IN THE LEGISLATURE SEEM TO ME TO BE INCLINED TO WANT TO WORK WITH HIM. THAT'S WHAT WE'RE HEARING OUT OF CHRIS RANTS FOLLOWING HIS ELECTION AS SPEAKER, THAT WE DON'T HAVE TO SOFTEN THIS GUY UP ANYMORE. WE CAN WORK ON SOMETHING. NOW, JERRY, IF YOU'RE GOING TO SIT HERE AND TELL US TODAY THAT YOUR FRIEND TOM VILSACK IS A CANDIDATE FOR GOVERNOR, IS IT TIME FOR THE REPUBLICANS TO START CHEWING HIM UP AGAIN?

Crawford: I HAVE NEVER HEARD A SINGLE SYLLABLE OUT OF GOVERNOR VILSACK'S MOUTH TO INDICATE ANYTHING OTHER THAN WHAT HE SAID BEFORE. I WAS MERELY STATING A TRUISM, WHICH IS THAT FOUR YEARS IS A VERY LONG TIME IN POLITICS.

Yepsen: SO WE'LL TAKE THE GOVERNOR'S WORD --

Mahaffey: JERRY DOESN'T WANT TO NAIL THE BARN DOOR SHUT.

Yepsen: WE'LL TAKE THE GOVERNOR'S WORD THAT HE'S RUNNING AGAIN. WHO DO YOU HAVE? IS SALLY PEDERSON RUNNING? IS CHET CULVER RUNNING? WHO WINS THAT PRIMARY?

Crawford: THOSE ARE TWO OBVIOUS NAMES BUT I THINK IT'S ALMOST SILLY TO SPECULATE ABOUT IT.

Yepsen: NOT ON THIS SHOW. [ LAUGHTER ]

Crawford: FOUR YEARS FROM NOW, I MEAN, THE CAST OF CHARACTERS CAN CHANGE IN SO MANY WAYS. I MEAN WHO KNOWS HOW THE PRESIDENTIAL CAUCUS PROCESS WILL PLAY OUT, WHAT EFFECT THAT RACE WILL HAVE ON OTHER RACES BRINGING OTHER PEOPLE TO THE FOREFRONT.

Glover: WELL, LET'S SHORTEN UP THE TIME FRAME A LITTLE BIT. YOU'VE GOT ANOTHER ELECTION COMING UP IN TWO YEARS. CHUCK GRASSLEY IS UP. WHO HAVE YOU GOT FOR HIM?

Crawford: WELL, I'VE HEARD CHET CULVER'S NAME MENTIONED IN THAT REGARD AS WELL. FRANKLY, I THINK THAT WOULD BE A TREMENDOUS THING FOR THE SECRETARY OF STATE TO TAKE A HARD, HARD LOOK AT DOING. WOULD IT BE A DIFFICULT CHALLENGE? ABSOLUTELY. BUT NONE OF US KNOW WHAT THE LANDSCAPE POLITICALLY IS GOING TO LOOK LIKE IN NOVEMBER OF 2004.

Mahaffey: I'D LIKE TO HEAR THE CONVERSATIONS BETWEEN FATHER JOHN CULVER AND SON CHET CULVER ON THAT ONE. THAT WOULD BE INTERESTING, WOULDN'T IT?

Borg: WHY? GO AHEAD.

Mahaffey: WELL, IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY, I THINK IT WAS CHUCK GRASSLEY THAT BEAT JOHN CULVER. YES, RIGHT. SO HE UNDERSTANDS THE APPEAL.

Glover: ON THE OTHER HAND, HE WOULDN'T BE RISKING A WHOLE LOT. HE WOULDN'T BE LOSING HIS OFFICE. HE'S NOT UP IN 2002.

Crawford: IT'S AN INTERESTING THOUGHT.

Glover: WHAT ARE THE DEMOCRATIC NAMES THAT YOU HEAR?

Mahaffey: I HONESTLY HAVEN'T HEARD THAT MANY AGAINST CHUCK GRASSLEY.

Crawford: AS WE LOOK AT THE WHITE HOUSE, MICHAEL, WE SEE A PRETTY STRONG PRECEDENT FOR SONS TRYING TO GRIEVE THEIR FATHER'S PAST PROBLEM AREAS. SO MAYBE THERE IS A LITTLE HISTORY THERE.

Yepsen: JERRY, WHAT IS -- AS I MENTIONED, YOU'RE CLOSE WITH TOM VILSACK. WHAT DOES IT MEAN THAT THE GOVERNOR IS SHAKING THINGS UP? HE'S GOT STEVE GLEASON IN AS THE NEW CHIEF OF STAFF. JOHN CACCIATORE IS OUT. WHAT'S THE GOVERNOR DOING HERE?

Crawford: WELL, I THINK HE'S LOOKING AT WHAT HIS CHALLENGES ARE STRAIGHT AHEAD AND TRYING TO FIND THE RIGHT TEAM TO HELP HIM GET FROM HERE TO THERE. STEVE GLEASON IS A PERSON OF INCREDIBLE INTELLECT. HE'S SOMEBODY THAT THE GOVERNOR IS GOING TO HAVE TREMENDOUS RESPECT FOR AS AN INTELLECTUAL EQUAL. HE HAS A WEALTH OF BACKGROUND. HE SERVED AS A CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER AT MERCY HOSPITAL AND THEN AT THE STATE HEALTH DEPARTMENT. HE BRINGS A VERY DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE, VERY MUCH A POLICY PERSPECTIVE. AND GOING BACK TO YOUR EARLIER POINT, I THINK HE'S SOMEBODY THAT THE REPUBLICANS IN THE LEGISLATURE ARE GOING TO BE VERY COMFORTABLE REACHING ACROSS TO AND WORKING WITH TO TRY AND SOLVE THE STATE'S PROBLEMS. IT IS NOT THE TIME FOR POLITICS AS USUAL IN IOWA. IT'S TIME TO TRY AND MOVE OUR STATE.

Yepsen: SO ISN'T THE GOVERNOR SIGNALLING THAT HE IS IN FACT NOT GOING TO RUN? I MEAN JOHN CACCIATORE WAS HIS CAMPAIGN MANAGER IN '98. HE GOT HIM THROUGH THIS CAMPAIGN. STEVE GLEASON IS NOT A POLITICAL MECHANIC. HE'S A POLICY WONK.

Crawford: I THINK STEVE GLEASON IS A GREAT PERSON TO TRY AND MOVE THE STATE FORWARD FROM A POLICY STANDPOINT.

Borg: MIKE MAHAFFEY --

Glover: WHAT ABOUT THE TENOR UP THERE? WHAT'S IT GOING TO BE LIKE AT THE STATEHOUSE? YOU'VE GOT A GOVERNOR WHO WON REELECTION FAIRLY HANDEDLY BY ABOUT 80,000 VOTES. YOU'VE GOT REPUBLICANS WHO KEPT CONTROL OF THE LEGISLATURE BY ALMOST THE SAME MARGIN GOING IN. WHAT'S THE TENOR GOING TO BE LIKE UP THERE?

Mahaffey: I THINK THE TENOR HAS CHANGED SOME, AND I THINK IT IS MORE CIVIL AT THIS POINT AND PERHAPS -- AND HOPEFULLY WILL REMAIN THAT WAY, PARTLY FOR THE REASONS DAVID HAS SAID. LOOK, HERE'S THE OTHER THING. THIS WAS A NEGATIVE CAMPAIGN IN MANY RESPECTS, BUT THE PEOPLE IN IOWA -- RURAL, URBAN, SUBURBAN, INNER CITY, WHATEVER -- WANT SOME THINGS TO BE DONE AND WE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE FUTURE OF THIS STATE. WHERE I LIVE, WE'RE CONCERNED ABOUT THE FACT THAT WE DON'T WANT POCKETS OF AFFLUENCE IN THIS STATE AND THE REST OF US TO BE LIKE WESTERN NEBRASKA. AND BOTH THE REPUBLICANS IN THE LEGISLATURE AND THE GOVERNOR ARE GOING TO HAVE TO ADDRESS THOSE ISSUES, AND PEOPLE ARE EXPECTING THAT.

Glover: WELL, DEAL WITH THIS WHOLE TENOR ISSUE OF THE CAMPAIGN. ADMITTEDLY IT WAS ONE OF THE MOST NEGATIVE CAMPAIGNS THAT ANY OF US HAVE EVER WITNESSED, AND ONE OF THE TRUISMS THAT WE ALL ASSUME IN POLITICS IS NEGATIVE CAMPAIGNING IS DESIGNED TO SUPPRESS TURNOUT. AND WE HAD A RECORD TURNOUT.

Mahaffey: WE DID.

Glover: EXPLAIN THAT.

Mahaffey: I'M NOT SURE I CAN EXPLAIN THAT, BUT THE OTHER THING THAT DOES IS WITH ALL OF THE MONEY SPENT AND WITH ALL THE BATTLING AND EVERYTHING, WE BASICALLY REMAINED THE SAME. SO WHAT PEOPLE SAID IS, "OKAY, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A REPUBLICAN LEGISLATURE AND A DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR. NOW DO SOMETHING."

Crawford: ON THE TENOR, THOUGH, WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT TURNOUT BEING UP, DON'T FORGET THE ABSENTEE BALLOT EFFORT THAT THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY HAD. A LOT OF THOSE VOTES WERE CAST BEFORE THE WORST OF THAT TELEVISION EXPERIENCE CAME. I MIGHT JUST SAY THAT MIKE AND I ARE GOING TO ATTEMPT TO CONVENE IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS A GROUP OF PEOPLE, PROMINENT DEMOCRATS AND PROMINENT REPUBLICANS, TO SEE IF WE CAN TAKE ADVANTAGE OF WHAT HAS HAPPENED NATIONALLY WITH THE PROHIBITIONS ON SOFT MONEY. IT WON'T BE AS EASY FOR NATIONAL GROUPS TO COME IN AND RUN THOSE HORRIBLE, HORRIBLE TELEVISION COMMERCIALS NEXT TIME. WE'RE GOING TO SEE IF, REACHING ACROSS PARTY LINES, WE CAN ENCOURAGE PEOPLE IN A COUPLE OF KEY RACES ON A TRIAL BASIS TO AGREE NOT TO DO THAT, WHERE THEY WOULD SAY THAT IF THEY'RE GOING TO DO SOMETHING NEGATIVE OR SAY SOMETHING NEGATIVE ABOUT THEIR OPPONENT, THEY WOULD LOOK INTO THE CAMERA AND DO IT THEMSELVES.

Yepsen: WHEN DID YOU BECOME A DO-GOODER, JERRY? [ LAUGHTER ]

Glover: TO ARGUE THE POINT, CYNICS WILL SAY IT WILL BE A LITTLE BIT MORE DIFFICULT FOR THESE GROUPS TO GET THAT MONEY IN, BUT THEY'LL FIND A WAY. AND TO TAKE DAVID'S POINT, WHY WOULDN'T I, AS A POLITICAL ADVISOR, TELL A CANDIDATE, "LOOK, SPEND A TON OF MONEY ON TELEVISION, MAKE IT AS NEGATIVE AND AS ATTACK PRONE AS YOU CAN, AND IT WORKS"?

Crawford: I'LL TELL YOU WHY. BECAUSE IF MIKE BRINGS MARVIN POMERANTS TO THE TABLE AND I BRING BILL KNAPP TO THE TABLE, AND THEY SAY A POX ON YOUR HOUSE IF YOU PLAY THAT WAY, PEOPLE WILL PAY A LITTLE ATTENTION.

Yepsen: ARTHUR DAVIS TRIED TO PUT THAT TOGETHER. IT DIDN'T WORK AND THE LESSON POLITICIANS ALWAYS LEARNED IS THAT NEGATIVE CAMPAIGNS WORK. STEVE LARGENT IS NOT GOVERNOR OF OKLAHOMA TODAY BECAUSE HE REFUSED TO GO NEGATIVE AND THE DEMOCRAT DID.

Crawford: STEVE LARGENT ISN'T GOVERNOR OF OKLAHOMA TODAY BECAUSE THERE WAS A FIGHT BETWEEN FOOTBALL COACHES IN OKLAHOMA. DON'T EVER GIVE THE POLITICIANS TOO MUCH CREDIT IN THAT RACE.

Mahaffey: ALSO, HE CAME OUT AGAINST COCK FIGHTING IN RURAL OKLAHOMA.

Borg: MIKE MAHAFFEY, LET'S GO BACK TO THE TENOR OF THE LEGISLATURE A LITTLE BIT AND GET INTO THIS RURAL/URBAN TENSION THAT WE'VE HAD IN THIS STATE. IS THAT GOING TO MITIGATE AT ALL WITH THE CHANGES AND FACES AND THE COMPOSITION UP THERE?

Mahaffey: WELL, AS WE ALL KNOW, THE LEGISLATURE HAS MORE URBAN OR, IF YOU WILL, SUBURBAN COMPLEXION TO IT. I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANY QUESTION THERE WILL STILL BE SOME OF THOSE BATTLES. BUT IN TERMS OF THE FUTURE OF THIS STATE, WE ARE -- WE'RE WEDDED TOGETHER IN TERMS OF RURAL AND URBAN IOWA. AND THE CONCERNS THAT I THINK PEOPLE HAVE ARE JUST WHAT IS THE FUTURE OF THIS STATE, WHERE ARE WE GOING, AND HOW ARE WE GOING TO MAKE SOME OF THOSE CHANGES THAT ARE GOING TO MEAN THAT TEN, TWENTY YEARS FROM NOW WE'RE STILL GOING TO BE THE KIND OF STATE WE WANT TO BE.

Yepsen: MIKE, BOTH OF YOU KNOW -- I WANT THIS QUESTION TO BOTH OF YOU QUICKLY. WHAT DO WE EXPECT FROM THE NEWCOMERS? I MEAN TO DEAN'S POINT, THERE HAVE BEEN URBAN/RURAL TENSIONS. YOU'VE GOT A FEW MORE URBAN FOLKS IN THE LEGISLATURE, AND YOU GUYS KNOW THAT THE NEW PEOPLE COMING INTO THE LEGISLATURE, 40 PERCENT OF THEM ARE NEW. WHAT CAN WE EXPECT OUT OF THIS NEW CLASS?

Mahaffey: HERE'S WHAT I HOPE WE GET FROM THEM IS THAT WE HAVE PEOPLE THAT ARE NOT AFRAID TO PERHAPS TRY SOME DIFFERENT THINGS AND NOT AFRAID TO CHALLENGE THE ANCIENT DOGMAS OF THE PAST IN THEIR PARTICULAR PARTIES. I THINK THE PARTY THAT IS LEAST AFRAID TO TRY SOME NEW THINGS AND LEAST AFRAID TO SAY, "HERE, WE'RE GOING TO RETAIN OUR PRINCIPLES, BUT HERE'S SOME THINGS WE'RE GOING TO DO" IS THE PARTY THAT HAS THE BEST CHANCE TO BE THE MAJORITY PARTY IN THE FUTURE.

Yepsen: JERRY, WHAT DO WE EXPECT?

Crawford: I AGREE WITH THAT. I THINK THAT THE MOST INTERESTING BATTLE GROUND RIGHT NOW IN IOWA IS THE RURAL AREA. THE DEMOCRATS HAVE THE URBAN AREAS. THE REPUBLICANS HAVE THE SUBURBAN AREAS. I SEE THE RURAL AREAS AS THE REMAINING PLAYING FIELD WHERE CONTROL IS GOING TO BE DETERMINED. SO EVEN THOUGH THERE'S BEEN A SHIFT AWAY FROM RURAL REPRESENTATION, I SEE THE RURAL AREAS OF OUR STATE AS BEING INCREASINGLY IMPORTANT TO DETERMINING WHO CONTROLS THE LEGISLATURE IN IOWA. SO I EXPECT A LOT OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT AGENDA IN THE COMING SESSION.

Borg: I WAS GOING TO ASK ABOUT THE ISSUES: RURAL DEVELOPMENT, BUT SPECIFICALLY ROADS, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

Crawford: IT'S GOING TO ALL BE IN THE CONTEXT OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT: HOW DO WE GROW THE STATE; HOW DO WE GROW OUR WAY OUT OF THE BUDGET DIFFICULTY?

Mahaffey: IN TERMS OF THE INTERNET AND BEING WIRED AND THE SPEED AND THE PROCESS IN RURAL IOWA.

Glover: JERRY, THIS IS MAINLY AIMED AT YOU. THERE'S ANOTHER ELECTION IN 2004 FOR A THING CALLED THE PRESIDENT OF UNITED STATES. DEMOCRATS HAVE TO COME UP WITH A CANDIDATE. THAT'S ALREADY STARTED. THERE'S ALREADY BEEN CAMPAIGNING HERE. HANDICAP THAT RACE FOR ME. WHO DO YOU LIKE FOR YOUR NEW FRONT-RUNNER?

Crawford: I THINK THAT THREE PEOPLE ARE OFF TO THE BEST START. JOHN KERRY OF MASSACHUSETTS WHO I THINK HAS ACCUMULATED THE BEST STAFF, PARTICULARLY AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL; JOHN EDWARDS FROM NORTH CAROLINA, WHO HAS SPENT A LOT OF TIME AND A LOT OF MONEY IN IOWA, HAS HAD A LOT OF PEOPLE ON THE GROUND HERE, AND WHO HAS A VERY STRONG APPEAL TO A LOT OF PEOPLE IN IOWA AND NATIONALLY; AND HOWARD DEAN, THE GOVERNOR OF VERMONT, WHO HAS KIND OF BEEN THE STEALTH CANDIDATE, SOME SAY THE BIRKENSTOCKS CANDIDATE. HE HAS GOTTEN OFF TO A VERY GOOD SHOE-LEATHER START IN IOWA.

Glover: NEVER A BAD THING TO BE A LIBERAL IN A DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY, RIGHT? YOU DIDN'T MENTIONED ONE NAME, AND IT'S CALLED AL GORE.

Crawford: YOU KNOW, I HAVE BEEN WATCHING THIS BOOK TOUR WITH INTEREST. IT'S A VERY GOOD WAY TO SELL BOOKS. IT'S A VERY GOOD WAY TO REINTRODUCE YOURSELF TO THE PEOPLE WHO WATCH "LARRY KING LIVE." BUT I JUST DON'T THINK IT'S A VERY GOOD WAY TO GET PEOPLE TO GO FROM THEIR OWN LIVING ROOM TO SOMEONE ELSE'S ON A COLD NIGHT IN JANUARY IN 2004. HE'S WAY BEHIND THE CURVE.

Yepsen: AND, JERRY, AS THEY SAY ON THE FINANCIAL SHOWS, DO YOU OWN STOCK IN ANY OF THESE CANDIDATES? ARE YOU BACKING ANY OF THESE CANDIDATES?

Crawford: THAT'S A VERY FAIR QUESTION AND THE ANSWER IS NO. I HAVEN'T MADE MY MIND UP YET, THOUGH IT WOULD PROBABLY BE AMONG THOSE THREE THAT I TALKED ABOUT.

Glover: MICHAEL, LET'S LOOK ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE. IF I'M A REPUBLICAN IN IOWA, AM I NOT LOOKING FORWARD TO 2004 WITH SOME RELISH? I'M GOING TO HAVE A CHUCK GRASSLEY AT THE TOP OF THE TICKET; I'M GOING TO HAVE A REPUBLICAN PRESIDENT UP FOR REELECTION WHO RIGHT NOW LOOKS PRETTY POPULAR -- ADMITTEDLY THINGS CAN CHANGE IN A COUPLE YEARS -- AND A BUNCH OF INCUMBENT CONGRESSMEN IN THE DISTRICT. IF I'M A REPUBLICAN, DON'T I LIKE THE SHAPE OF THE NEXT ELECTION?

Mahaffey: I THINK YOU DO. NOW, WE HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT THERE'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF DEMOCRATS IN THE STATE OF IOWA BEATING THE HECK OUT OF GEORGE BUSH FOR THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS. THAT ALWAYS HURTS IN SOME RESPECTS. HAVING SAID THAT, I THINK THE DEMOCRATS HAVE UNDERESTIMATED GEORGE BUSH, AND IF THEY CONTINUE TO DO SO, I DON'T THINK THEY'LL HAVE A CHANCE IN 2004. LOOK, THE AMERICAN PEOPLE LIKE GEORGE BUSH, AND THE PEOPLE IN IOWA LIKE GEORGE BUSH, AND THAT MAKES A BIG DIFFERENCE. IN TERMS OF POLICY AND OTHER THINGS, THAT'S FINE, BUT YOU'VE GOT TO BE LIKED FIRST. AND THIS PRESIDENT IS LIKED AND THAT WAS OBVIOUS IN TERMS OF THE OUTCOME OF THE NATIONAL ELECTIONS.

Glover: JERRY, LET'S GET PAST THE PRIMARY QUESTION THAT WE JUST ASKED A COUPLE OF MINUTES AGO. MAKE THE CASE THAT ONE OF THE GUYS THAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT IS GOING TO BEAT AN INCUMBENT PRESIDENT WHO RIGHT NOW -- AND ADMITTEDLY, THINGS CAN CHANGE IN A BIG HURRY -- BUT RIGHT NOW HE LOOKS PRETTY GOOD.

Crawford: ONE OF TWO THINGS IS GOING TO HAPPEN, AND I WOULD ARGUE THAT BOTH WOULD BE GOOD FOR THE COUNTRY. GEORGE BUSH NOW HAS ALL THE CARDS IN HIS HAND. HE'S GOT THE CONGRESS. IF IN THE NEXT TWO YEARS THE ECONOMY GOES IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION AND HE'S IN SOLID CONTROL OF OUR FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND OF OUR FOREIGN POLICY, THEN HE'LL DESERVE TO BE REELECTED AND HE WILL. AND IF THE COUNTRY IS PROSPERING, THAT'S GOOD FOR THE COUNTRY. THAT'S WHY WE'RE ALL DRAWN TO THIS BUSINESS, TO TRY TO IMPROVE THINGS IN OUR COUNTRY AND IN OUR STATE. IF THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN, IF HE DOESN'T TAKE US IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION, WE WILL ELECT A DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENT, AND I THINK THAT'S A PRETTY GOOD THING TOO.

Yepsen: MIKE MAHAFFEY, WE'VE GOT ONLY ABOUT A MINUTE LEFT. BILL SALIER'S NAME SURFACED IN THIS CAMPAIGN, A NORA SPRINGS FARMER. HE GOT 41 PERCENT OF THE VOTE AGAINST GREG GANSKE IN THE PRIMARY IN YOUR PARTY. UP AND COMER? RISING STAR? WHAT'S HIS FUTURE?

Mahaffey: YOU KNOW, IT COULD BE. I THINK BILL IS GOING TO HAVE TO EXPAND HIS BASE IN ORDER FOR THAT TO HAPPEN, BECAUSE I THINK HE HAS SOME VERY FERVENT FOLLOWERS AND HE IS CHARISMATIC. HAVING SAID THAT, I THINK YOU WIN ELECTIONS IN IOWA IN THE CENTER. REPUBLICANS ARE THE CENTER RIGHT PARTY; DEMOCRATS, CENTER LEFT. BUT YOU'VE GOT TO FIGHT FOR THE MIDDLE.

Yepsen: IT STRUCK ME HE WAS BEING A GOOD PARTY WARRIOR WHEN I SAW HIM OVER THERE CAMPAIGNING FOR JIM LEACH.

Mahaffey: HE WAS. HE WAS. AND I THINK THAT IS AN INDICATION THAT HE UNDERSTANDS THAT.

Yepsen: AND, JERRY, REAL QUICKLY, YOUR ABSENTEE BALLOT THING. IS THAT SOMETHING THAT IOWA DEMOCRATS CAN EXPORT TO OTHER STATES? WOULD THE NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC FORTUNES BE BETTER IF EVERY STATE HAVE DONE WHAT YOU FOLKS DID?

Crawford: YES, AND THERE'S GOING TO BE AN EFFORT TO DO THAT. WE HAVE A COUPLE OF RISING STARS TOO -- YOU ASKED ABOUT SALIER -- BUT THEY'RE AT THE STAFF LEVEL. JOHN LAPP, WHO RAN THE GOVERNOR'S CAMPAIGN, DID A FLAWLESS JOB. GORDON FISHER IS GOING TO BE THE NEW STATE CHAIR OF THE IOWA DEMOCRATIC PARTY. HE AND MONICA SEIGEL FISHER ARE ONE OF THE REAL YOUNG POWER COUPLES IN OUR COMMUNITY. HE'S GOING TO DO A GREAT JOB FOLLOWING UP ON THE JOB SHE AND HER EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR DID.

Yepsen: MIKE MAHAFFEY, DO YOU GUYS GET A NEW STATE CHAIRMAN?

Mahaffey: NO.

Borg: OKAY. THANKS FOR YOUR INSIGHTS. ON OUR NEXT EDITION OF "IOWA PRESS," WE DISCUSS THE EMERGING AGENDA FOR THE UPCOMING IOWA LEGISLATIVE SESSION. WE JUST TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT IT. JOINING US, REPRESENTATIVE CHUCK GIPP OF DECORAH, THE NEW REPUBLICAN MAJORITY LEADER IN THE IOWA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; AND HIS COUNTERPART, DEMOCRATIC MINORITY LEADER RICHARD MYERS OF IOWA CITY. THAT'S NEXT WEEKEND, 6:30 FRIDAY, SUNDAY AT NOON. AND THAT'S IT FOR THIS WEEKEND'S EDITION OF "IOWA PRESS." I'M DEAN BORG. THANKS FOR JOINING US TODAY.