IOWA CAUCUSES

On eve of Jeb Bush's longest Iowa trip, 3 opinion leaders endorse

Jennifer Jacobs
jejacobs@dmreg.com
Jeb Bush

On the eve of Republican presidential candidate Jeb Bush's longest Iowa visit yet, three GOP opinion leaders here are lining up behind him, aides told The Des Moines Register Monday night.

West Des Moines Mayor Steve Gaer, the leader of the largest suburb in Polk County and a supporter of former candidate Scott Walker; Rob Bacon, a state representative who backed former candidate Rick Perry; and Jeff Lamberti, a former Iowa Senate leader and one of the most sought-after Iowa Republicans who had not yet landed on a candidate, are now endorsing Bush.

"Jeb Bush was a strongly conservative governor, and I believe we need his successful experience in working with legislators and the courts," said Bacon, a funeral home director and former state senator from Slater.

Bacon said he thinks Bush's tax plan "will drive the significant economic growth this country badly needs."

Lamberti said he wants a president with "a proven record of getting things done."

"Like many Iowans, I am upset with Washington, including many of the Republicans in Congress, for their failure to act and lead. While I understand the appeal of 'outsider' candidates to citizens who are upset with Washington, I believe we do have a candidate in Jeb Bush who can change Washington," said Lamberti, a 2006 congressional candidate with close ties to Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad.

Bush begins a three-day Iowa swing Tuesday, his longest visit of the year so far. He has public events in the Quad Cities, Muscatine, Oskaloosa, Des Moines, West Des Moines and Indianola.