Branstad Running for Re-Election? Tweet Says 'It Starts Today'

After months of telling reporters he has yet to make up his mind on seeking re-election in 2014, Gov. Terry Branstad took a big step toward declaring himself a candidate.

The Des Moines Register reports that in an email today Branstad said his campaign team will do unprecedented work as they strategize for his re-election in 2014.

“Over the coming weeks and months, you will hear from our campaign team as they begin voter contact, outreach and community recruitment in a way no other Republican in Iowa has done before,” the email reportedly said.

According to Branstad's campaign website, four campaign staffers have been hired. ”Though a final decision and formal announcement won’t come until next year, we must be ready to hit the ground running,” the Register story quotes from the campaign email.

The Governor Branstad Committee has reached $2 million cash-on-hand and has hired Jake Ketzner of Clive to serve as campaign manager, Phil Valenziano to serve as political director, Vonna Hall of Pleasant Hill to serve as office manager and Jimmy Centers of Des Moines to serve as communications director, according to the website.

“The 2012 campaign cycle demonstrated that putting together a capable team early and harnessing evolving technologies yields great rewards," Branstad said on the website. "Our team will focus on organizing, recruiting and voter outreach over the coming months ensuring we’re well-positioned moving forward.”

A new Twitter account for Branstad and Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds – @IowasTeam - has been started, the newspaper reports.

No Democrat has formally entered the race to oppose Branstad, although State Sen. Jack Hatch of Des Moines is exploring a bid. Branstad defeats Hatch by a 2-1 margin in a hypothetical 2014 governor’s race match-up, according to a June Des Moines Register Iowa Poll.

Former Democratic Gov. Tom Vilsack, who served from 1999 to 2007 and is now the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, has said he will not run for governor next year.

Meanwhile, the Iowa Democratic Party launched a new website today at www.IAProblemCauser.com to “highlight the biggest problem facing progress in Iowa today – Terry Branstad.”

“Branstad refused to expand Medicaid before a nonpartisan coalition of more than 85 Iowa citizen groups ranging from AARP to the Iowa Hospital Association forced him to flip and fully implement Obamacare,” the Register story says. “Branstad threatened to hold back state school funding in 2013, forcing local schools to accept rates that don’t keep pace with inflation until Democrats stood up to him and demanded he fully fund the school aid formula.” 

Is there any Democrat who can mount a strong challenge to Branstad's re-election bid? Tell us below in comments.