JOHNSTON - Sioux City Republican Bob Vander Plaats said he's hoping to buck history by defeating sitting Gov. Chet Culver, who is up for re-election next year.

Vander Plaats, appearing Friday on Iowa Public Television's "Iowa Press," said a string of bad decisions by Culver make him vulnerable.

"I think what Iowans are seeing is a lack of instinct, of good instinct, on behalf of Gov. Chet Culver," Vander Plaats said.

Vander Plaats cited Culver's consideration of selling the Iowa Lottery and his failed proposal to double the can and bottle deposit fee as examples.

Vander Plaats has formed an exploratory committee in his bid for governor and said he officially could announce his candidacy this summer. This would be his third run for the job.

Vander Plaats launched two unsuccessful bids for governor in 2002 and in 2006, when he was GOP nominee Jim Nussle's running mate.

Pete D'Alessandro, political director of the Chet Culver Committee, fired back at Vander Plaats' comments.

"What's he run? Two or three times? I don't think he's ever been elected," D'Alessandro said. "Last time he ran, he actually aborted his campaign to hop onto the Jim Nussle wagon."

Despite failing to secure his party's nomination twice before, Vander Plaats said his support is growing in the state, citing what he called a "vibrant network" of backers in all of the state's 99 counties.

"We've earned a lot of support from a lot of new people that I didn't even realize that were out there," Vander Plaats said.

Iowans are looking for new leadership as they have seen a loss of freedom under President Obama's and Culver's administrations, Vander Plaats said.

Vander Plaats believes Republican principles are alive and well.

"I would say the message is good. I think we need a messenger that can be trusted," he said.

Contact Charlotte Eby at (515) 422-9061 or chareby@aol.com.