For the past few weeks, a group of Republican senators grew increasingly disenchanted with the leadership of Stew Iverson. This group consisted mainly of Senators to the left of Iverson (which can take in lots of territory) but also included one or two to his right, persons who had specific grudges. (One of them: Marshalltown's Larry McKibben.) As reported, they had planned to challenge his leadership role at the end of this session, but grew so frustrated they decided to move it up. Iverson got wind of it just a day or so before it happened. At the surprise caucus, a no-confidence vote in Iverson passed, with ease. Then they voted to elect a new leader. That vote was extremely close, pitting Mary Lundby against McKibben (who had actually led the coup). Lundby emerged as the winner, 13-12, and by nightfall Iverson was clearing out his office in the Capitol. Why was it pushed up? A top Senate source told us that Iverson wanted to "settle" with top TouchPlay folks, giving some of his fat cat donors parting gifts, which sent Lundby looking for a platter for Iverson's head, and that Lundby garnered support as she sharpened her sword. "Mary," our source said, "was in the right place at the right time." The biggest loser - besides Iverson and McKibben - is Iowans for Tax Relief, the David Stanley group that has had so many Republicans under its thumb because of its money-gathering abilities. But, like the Farm Bureau, it has been losing clout, and this is a huge blow to it. Most people figure Iverson now won't run again for his seat. Lundby, meanwhile, continues to confound everyone. Two years ago, Democrats were whispering that she was going to change parties. One year ago, they were whispering that she was about to die [she had a bad bout with cancer], but none of them were whispering in recent weeks that she was about to topple Iverson. All of this is probably good for the Democrats - she'll be easier for them to negotiate budgets and other stuff with - but bad for House Speaker Christopher Rants [who is used to getting what he wants], who loses an ally and now will be outgunned in the final days of the session by Gov. Vilsack and Lundby. Of course, most think that Lundby will be majority leader only temporarily, for they agree the Democrats will win the Senate, easily, this fall. Because of the change at the top, the session could go well into June, we're told.

In the most bone-headed play of the week, Sen. Brad Zaun compared, during an open Senate session, that back-dooring Iverson was like "Stepping out on one's wife."

Jim Nussle's gubernatorial research team is devoting significant resources on the CIETC scandal, trying to tie Mike Blouin and Chet Culver to the debacle. "Team Nussle is prepared to slaughter [the Democratic candidates], the Polk County Democrats and the South Side Machine," a Nussle insider told us. "They are all busy shooting themselves in the foot, but Nussle will have a wealth of ammunition for a few kill shots." Our source also said Nussle raised more during the Bush and McCain visits than Culver raised in all of 2005.

Next week could be the make-or-break moment for candidate Ed Fallon's campaign, we're told. Last week, it was his turn on the CIETC scandal. On TV, in front of all of Central Iowa, Fallon claimed he had known about this for years and had the documentation to prove it. "Now we're going to call him on it," said one lawmaker. "And if the Legislative Oversight Committee, which has been conducting the meetings, feels he in fact does have the information he claims to, he will be the next star witness for the committee. This will add to his underdog image - not as a person who couldn't get things done as a result of not exposing them first - but as someone who is always beat down and swatted away like a fly, and now could be seen as somebody who just might actually know what the hell is going on." However, if Fallon fails to produce on this, he can kiss his campaign goodbye, we're told.

Speaking of CIETC, Rep. Dwayne Alons, for some unknown reason, during the legislative panel last week, asked Archie Brooks if he knew Ned Chiodo. Insiders say Alons was trying to play the "anti-Italian" card, and Chiodo, we're told, read Alons the riot act "right in the middle of the rotunda" for doing so. Senate leader Jeff Lamberti, whose father is one of Central Iowa's most beloved Italian-Americans, called Rep. Chuck Gipp and told him to keep his gang in line - one of whom is Alons.

Word on the street is that Mike Blouin was shooting TV ads late last week. No ad buys have been placed at the stations yet, so we're not sure as to when he will hit the air. A top Democratic source said to look for a quick round of positive ads, followed by an extensive round of ugly negatives. "They want to go up early with the hope that it moves the needle enough to get a cash infusion. If the needle doesn't move, Blouin could be relatively silent the last few weeks."

And finally, the daily forgot to mention in its recent story about Polk County Supervisor's Chief of Staff Mike Freilinger's latest salary increase (he is eligible for another one July 1, as well) the fact that Freilinger now receives a $300-per-month car allowance, too. CV

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