Host:  We have an e-mail from Nick in Iowa City. He asks, "When it comes to the oppression of third parties Iowa is about as backward as any nation in the world and any state in the U.S. Iowa’s Democratic and Republican parties have opposed instant runoff voting, fusion voting, the listing of third parties on voter registration forms, and so forth."

This to you, Bob, "You say you want to represent all Iowans, that you want new ideas, and to move Iowa into the 21st century.  Historically, most new political and public policy ideas have come from third parties, whether on the political right or left. Why this opposition to them in Iowa, and what, as governor, would you propose to do about it?" A question about third parties.

Bob:  Well, you know, I don’t know about the opposition to third parties, because I think part of the democratic process is that if somebody wants to start their own party, or if there wants to be a third party candidate, that they should have a voice at the table as well.

I think what we have found out at the national level as well as at the state level is that it is very hard to run from a third party position. You just don’t have the backing, the organization, or the support in order to make that happen.

Now I happen to be a Republican, I happen to be proud to be a Republican because I believe in less government.  I believe in local control. But I also believe about services with excellence.  And so, therefore, I am running from the Republican party base. But I do think I have a different approach and a different viewpoint for all Iowans to take a look at as a Republican.

Host: Let's go to Judy on line five.

[The next caller observed that Mr. VanderPratts had not answered the question. In response, he repeated what he had said before.]

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