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Governors gather in Iowa with eye on '06 elections

Three of every four states will elect governors next year. Republicans have a 28-22 lead in governorships, but will that hold up?

DES MOINES, Iowa - Republican governors huddled over national maps with a political strategist. Democrats raised cash at a high-rise fundraiser.

This state is known for narrowing the field of presidential contenders. But political races closer to home caught the attention of dozens of governors gathered Saturday for their summer meeting - the campaigns for governor next year.

Three of every four states elect their leaders in 2006, putting in play a nationwide contest for control of the states that will shape domestic policy and, many strategists contend, play a part in the presidential race.

"People recognize that 2006 is the Super Bowl of governors races," said Iowa's Tom Vilsack, a two-term Democratic governor who is not seeking re-election. "You've got governors races in all parts of the country, you've got them in very key, very critical states that will play a crucial role in 2008."

Republicans hold a majority of governors seats, 28-22. Democrats are defending the only two races this fall, open seats in New Jersey and Virginia.

But next year, 24 of the 36 contests will be for seats now held by the GOP. All six of the term-limited seats are held by Republicans. Vilsack's retirement will create the lone open Democratic seat.

"There's no question the landscape is not favorable," said GOP Gov. Mitt Romney of Massachusetts, who is deciding between seeking a second term and making a bid for the presidency.

The largest states will see contests. Florida has an open seat, since GOP Gov. Jeb Bush is term-limited. New York's three-term Gov. George Pataki, a Republican, is exploring a possible presidential bid, while popular Democratic Attorney General Eliot Spitzer is raising millions for his shot at governor. California GOP Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has seen his popularity numbers drop, giving Democrats hope.

Several freshmen governors will face tough tests, including Michigan Democrat Jennifer Granholm. Dick DeVos, the son of Amway Corp. co-founder and Orlando Magic owner Rich DeVos, has said he will run.

And governors' impact on presidential politics is never out of the picture, with elections in swing states like Ohio, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and Colorado. National and issue-oriented groups are all strategizing.

"We're very focused on these governors races," Karen White, executive director of Emily's List, said from Washington. Her group works to elect female Democrats who favor abortion rights. "We'll help them with the resources they need early on, and then with their races."

Her group expects to raise more than in 2004, when they spent nearly $11-million. The Republican Governors Association aims to spend at least $30-million. Democrats didn't provide a number.

This weekend, governors cross party lines to focus on policy, with Medicaid and improving high school education atop their list. But it began with partisan fundraisers and meetings with political consultants.

Michigan's Republican Party last week began statewide radio ads charging Granholm with failing to stop job losses as unemployment soars. Democrats fired back, criticized likely challenger DeVos, whose company laid off 1,000 Michigan workers while investing in China.

Granholm acknowledged the challenge. She said she's focused on helping workers in her state's battered automotive industry adjust to painful changes of globalization. She acknowledged voters might take out their anger at the ballot box.

In Florida, fundraising among GOP candidates is on track to break records, while Democratic candidate Scott Maddox was damaged by financial mismanagement at the state Democratic party during his time as chairman.

In Texas, Republicans this spring traded accusations about Hillary Clinton, whose liberal policies often draw the ire of the GOP. An old letter of GOP Gov. Rick Perry surfaced where he complimented Clinton for her work on health care. His campaign had circulated a video of an event where Clinton appeared with Texas GOP Sen. Kay Bailey Hutcinson, who had briefly considered challenging Perry but then said no.

Perry is facing an intraparty challenge from Comptroller Carole Keeton Strayhorn, whose sons both work for President Bush: White House spokesman Scott McClellan and Dr. Mark McClellan, administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

In Iowa, Republican governors devoted Saturday morning to 2006 strategy.

"We spent some time looking at where we're strong, where we need to improve," said Romney, singling out Iowa and its open seat as a top target. "We have some harder work to do."

[Last modified July 17, 2005, 01:07:03]