MOSCOW, Iowa — State Rep. Christopher Rants stopped at a Republican Party family barbecue in Muscatine County on Sunday — the latest stop in a 2,000-mile drive through Iowa last week.

“I am exploring running for governor,” said Rants, 41 — a Sioux City Republican, 17-year veteran of the Iowa Legislature and former Speaker of the House. He declined to say when he would make a decision, adding that he would explore a campaign for as long as he can receive free publicity. He will eventually announce his decision on the social-networking Web site Twitter, Rants said.

Rants is in a field of Republicans — including Bob Vander Plaats of Sioux City, Rep. Rod Roberts of Carroll and Sen. Jerry Behn of Boone — who are thought to be seeking the nomination to challenge Democratic Gov. Chet Culver in 2010. He spoke to about 100 Republicans during the annual family barbecue at the farm of Muscatine County Supervisor Dave Watkins of Moscow.

Iowa needs competent fiscal leadership, which the likeable Culver can’t provide, Rants said. He said he is driving around the state and considering a gubernatorial run to help make sure his daughters, Grace and Kait, are challenged academically and won’t someday feel as if they have to leave Iowa to launch their careers.

“We are not at the crossroads in Iowa. We are way down the wrong path,” he said. “We’re exporting our best resources.”

Rants said state spending in Iowa increased about 3 percent this year to $6.3 billion at a time when revenues declined. The state faces a $1 billion shortfall next year between its built-in expenses and anticipated revenues, which will lead to tax increases, Rants said.

“There’s no way around it … You can’t cut $1 billion in one year,” he said. “I guarantee you that Gov. Culver doesn’t know what we’re going to do to get out of a $1 billion hole.”