Most of the national attention on next month's elections has been focused on Congress. In the day-to-day of governance, and in the nuts-and-bolts of party strength, we should not overlook the state races for governor. The Iowa campaign seems to be in a dead-heat between Chet Culver (D), the Secretary of State, and Jim Nussle (R), an eight-term Congressman. Thomas Beaumont, writing for the Des Moines Register, has a good article today on the race.

One of the points of disagreement concerns abortion: Culver presents himself as pro "abortion rights," while Nussle promises to sign a bill making all abortions, except to save the life of the mother, illegal. Culver is trying to tie Nussle to President Bush, and Nussle is portraying Culver as a big-spender.