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Iowa Governor Talks Caucuses

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    Gov. Terry Branstad on 'Special Report'

  • Duration 5:05
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Welcome back to the Iowa State Capitol here and -- -- less than two hours from the start.

Of the Iowa Caucuses here with some perspective on tonight's big event is the Republican governor of this state.

Terry Branstad welcome governor.

Thank you Brent good to be with you glad to have -- our great capital -- gorgeous place you thanks for having us.

You know I've heard you talk about predictions on turnout.

We're now -- today at the weather's pretty nice what what's your thought about coming out.

My sense is a lot of people are concerned about the direction the country's going the national debt going up more than trillion dollars every year since Obama's been president.

This Obama health care thing is -- -- on sustainable I think.

Iowans want to see a change and I think they're gonna get out in big numbers tonight I'm predicting that we're gonna -- record breaking turnout.

I think it's going to be in the range of -- 130000.

People participate in the Republican caucus now in 2008 it was 1191000.

Plus.

That would be a big turnout.

That would be a great turnout and I'm going back to the same precinct I was.

Four years ago that's up in Boone county.

-- -- Boone county rural precinct number four it's in Ogden Iowa and will be at the middle school in nod in the night we'll see you it can turn out we -- -- -- we had a good turnout.

Four years ago and I think we'll be bigger.

What about anecdotally what you're hearing about the race the state of the race for these candidates well I think the candidates have taken -- very seriously work very hard.

A tremendous amount of good time -- A lot of money spent on TV.

A lot of phone calls lot of direct mail a lot of volunteers making a lot of calls my sense is all of that's going to mean.

People are going to come out in significant numbers because they know how important it is for the future of our state in our country.

Can I think that Romney.

Who got a late start here but worked really hard here for years ago has come back pretty strong and Rick Santorum started.

Really.

With a very grassroots campaign went to all 99 counties and is just build and build and build from that and he seems to have -- momentum so I think gates.

It's going to be Santorum and Romney and also -- Ron Paul as a strong following especially among younger people so.

Those look to be the strongest campaigns going into the night but.

Also I would say governor Perry's got a bunch of volunteers have come up here from Texas to join him he's coming on strong at the end.

-- and you know we don't know we've seen Bachmann win the straw poll in also couple.

Weeks ago it look like Newt Gingrich could win it well you covered the field they're government itself but the one that's not gonna do well is Jon Huntsman.

He made a tragic mistake of not coming here.

-- -- Iowa and he's gonna pay a price for that the top three going in according to the polls were.

Romney and Santorum and Paul and pretty tight you think that that's accurate but your sense even if there's a big turnout is that Ron Paul has slid a bit.

I think he had us.

I believe that.

There are some questions about his stance verses hi -- especially since I runs in the news.

People are concerned about it.

In they like you stay -- fighting against these deficits he's got an aggressive plan to reduce the federal debt by more than it.

And reduce the deficit.

A trillion dollars a year in the first year but.

There's concern about his foreign policy and I think.

That's the issue that's causing a lot of us Republicans have second thoughts about Ron Paul you did not endorse congressman Steve King did not endorse.

Two big figures instead -- -- Grassley the lieutenant governor frame rattle what does that set.

What is -- isn't it well first for me as governor I wanna be a good host -- curry Jamal want to give my best advice.

But I want the and I'm also a humble enough to understand.

Iowans make up their own mind and just because somebody endorses a candidate doesn't necessarily.

Mean that's a candidate they're gonna vote people are gonna make their own decision based on.

Their own analysis and what they've seen and heard from the candidate last thing you hear it every four years.

-- we're getting the special treatment.

You think.

It's still shift.

Absolutely because Iowans care.

They were hardworking.

Humble people we we feel very strongly that.

This state.

Really represents what America is all about -- that we need to make sure that it doesn't cost an arm -- leg to get started.

The end when you can have a candidate this extra little resources work hard build an organization and -- makes.

You know improves people that they have.

The wherewithal.

And and the vision and the plan to lead this country I think they deserve to be looked at and we winnow the field and I think there'll be three tickets out of here tomorrow -- some would like to see four but we'll see OK governor thank you very lucky Brian thanks for.

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