Came across this headline earlier today: 53% of Iowans Want a New Governor and thought, well that’s a pretty not nice thing to say about a mid-western governor.  Then after reading the article you start to think, well, Governor Chet Culver hasn’t exactly been a pillar of leadership on the really rock-hard place issues so far for 2009.

A lot of his problems stem from fiscal matters, whether it’s hoping for the best on the $161 million budget deficit instead of making cuts and upsetting some core political allies, not standing up for taxpayers thrown out of a public hearing because they demanded their voices to be heard (literally hundreds of Iowans were escorted out of the House chamber by state police), and a little splash of social issues by folding on a key family values issue he had earlier pledged to stand strong on (he said he’d do whatever it took).

Some other little bits and pieces that make the case against Culver stronger.  Iowa families impacted by flooding continue to feel a real tax pinch because Democrats under Culver’s leadership blocked giving flood victims the ability to deduct their losses.  That cuts in a poll like this one.  Or jobs missed by Iowans that could’ve been had by offering tax incentives to green companies that can build components for wind farms.  Others states need the business more than Iowa one would surmise.  That also cuts pretty good.

So right there, 5 real issues that will continue to drive Chet Culver’s numbers down, and give Republicans like former House Speaker Christopher Rants, and Bob Vander Plaats the opportunities to offer Iowans real change in the office of Governor.