Reynolds leads all Democratic challengers in 2018 race for governor but...

[progressoid]

The new Des Moines Register/Mediacom Iowa Poll suggests two of those would-be challengers — state Sen. Nate Boulton and retired businessman Fred Hubbell — are more competitive with Reynolds than other Democrats in the race, but also indicates a high level of uncertainty and lingering unfamiliarity with the wide field of challengers.

In a Reynolds-Boulton matchup, 41 percent of likely 2018 voters say they’d vote for Reynolds, compared to 37 percent for Boulton — a 4 percentage-point advantage. In a Reynolds-Hubbell matchup, 42 percent would opt for the incumbent while 37 percent would back the Democrat, a 5-point edge.

In each hypothetical matchup, 22 percent of voters say they’d choose someone else, wouldn’t vote or simply weren’t yet sure whom to choose.

...

That said, Reynolds doesn’t garner more than 44 percent of the vote in any of the five matchups — a figure that underperforms both her 49 percent favorability rating and 47 percent job-approval rating among likely 2018 voters.

...https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/politics/iowa-poll/2018/02/07/iowa-poll-kim-reynolds-leads-all-democratic-challengers-2018-race-governor/308397002/

[rurallib]

1. We have strong candidates. Reynolds has some real liabilities, especially the budget

8 months is a long time in politics. I see Trump dragging the party further down and no doubt the legislature will do something really stupid that will catch Reynolds in the middle.

Of course we want the strongest candidate and hopefully someone with some coattails.

I really like Boulton - he is dynamic and extremely knowledgeable. My feeling is he would be a dramatic contrast to Reynolds. Plus he is a great friend of labor.

Hubbell is too laid back for me. Norris has moved to #2 in my mind. I like Andy McGuire, but boy-oh-boy she made some people upset at IDP.

I frankly don't care who it is - I would vote for the devil over any Repub.

And I am still not convinced she will be the nominee.

[progressoid]

2. Nate Boulton is the first choice in our household too.

I'm not terribly excited about Andy, but I know a few people here in the party "machine" (for lack of a better word) are pushing for her. Cathy Glasson is getting a little buzz around here now. Not sure how far she can go.

I'm a little concerned that with too many in the field, one won't get 35%. Having the delegates choose at the convention could get messy.

[rurallib]

3. I think we may be down to 5 by the primary

just my speculation. I think Wilburn and Niederbacher may drop out.
The other 5 seem to have solid bases, so the problem of the divided vote still exists.

I am hoping there may be some winnowing by June, but beyond Wilburn and Niederbacher I don't know who it would be.
And in a convention the same splits may exist.

Boulton and Glasson are both big on labor, but different types. It would make some sense for them to combine forces.
It is going to be a long year.