Case Study: Governor Chet Culver

Iowa State

Struble Eichenbaum helped create the message and produced the media for Chet Culver's impressive primary and general election victories in Iowa for Governor. Chet Culver started the campaign as a well liked Secretary of State with little depth to his image and many doubters about his ability to win in November. Our firm helped fill in his image with a detailed plan for Iowa's future and substantive ads that increased his stature. Despite losing the endorsement of almost every newspaper, most of labor and party leaders in the three largest counties, we won a solid 5% victory in the primary against two major opponents.

Congressman Jim Nussle, our general election opponent, was better funded, had good name recognition and started the fall even with Culver. Week by week we took on every attack from Nussle, threw them back and tied the Congressman to his Washington record. Our moderate, Iowa common sense positioning was more in line with Iowa voters and Culver won a surprisingly large 9% victory on Election Day.