DES MOINES - Party leaders in the Iowa House gave voters a preview of the election battle to come November, each vowing to increase their ranks in the chamber.

House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, D-Des Moines, said Democrats will capitalize on their legislative accomplishments this year - such as increasing education funding and health care offerings, while helping to create a statewide smoking ban - at the polls. That will enable them to build on their 53-47 edge over House Republicans, McCarthy said.

"I think we'll be between 60 and 62 seats. (That) is what our belief is, given everything that's occurred," McCarthy said on a taping of the Iowa Public Television program "Iowa Press."

Democrats raised more money than their GOP counterparts last year and are on pace to do so again this year, McCarthy said. External factors - such as the ongoing war in Iraq - bode well for the party, also, he said.

But House Minority Leader Christopher Rants, R-Sioux City, said Democrats have failed taxpayers by setting in motion plans that would increase, not decrease, property taxes - such as a rewrite of the state's public union bargaining law. The bill was approved in both chambers with only Democratic support, but has been put on hold as lawmakers try to address Gov. Chet Culver's unspecified concerns about the proposal.

"We're pretty confident that we're going to pick up the majority. We're optimistic about what happens this fall," Rants said on the show.

Democrats, who control both chambers, have little to tout on the campaign trail aside from increasing state spending, Rants said. Even a plan to increase state educational standards, known as the core curriculum, has been put on hold despite overwhelming bipartisan support, Rants noted.

"Unfortunately this General Assembly doesn't have a lot to show for itself other than the smoking ban," Rants said after the show.

Some once-Democratic candidates have joined the GOP, saying they feel their old party has "left them behind," Rants said.

Both leaders said they've attracted strong candidates that will reflect their districts' constituencies well. But despite a January caucus turnout that dwarfed Republicans' by a 2-to-1 margin, McCarthy said doesn't view November's election as a gimme for his party.

"We're not going to take anything for granted," McCarthy said. "We're going to run as if we're 20 points behind."

Contact Whitney Woodward at

(515) 243-0138 or

whitney.woodward@lee.net.