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Branstad for governor? As if there weren’t enough Republicans lined up for the job.

The idea of Terry Branstad returning to the campaign trail is disappointing for a couple of reasons, at least. A person needs to look ahead, not backward. And a political party needs to do the same.

Branstad has a place in Iowa’s history as one of its most successful political leaders. Chances are that a second act wouldn’t add anything to that legacy except more time spent in office. This isn’t the Rocky Balboa movie series. In the real world, it’s important to move forward, not relive past glory.

If he runs, he’ll be stepping into an arena that has gotten more vicious since he left. There will be plenty of details pulled from his record for attack, details that have settled into the shadows in the intervening years.

The only reason to run would be if the party truly sees Branstad as the only person available who can beat Gov. Chet Culver.

If that were true, the Republicans would barely qualify to govern. Right now, they should be sorting through the candidates who haven’t had their chance at the state’s top job yet.

What would they do differently? What would they bring to the table? How might they change the landscape?

Political parties exist to produce leaders. Surely the Iowa Republican Party can find someone with an up-to-date definition of what it stands for and where it wants to go.

Branstad presides over a successful institution, Des Moines University. His post-political life appears to be a good one. He might be content where he is, or he might be ready for a change.

But the governor’s office is no place to relive the past or get one last taste of privilege and power. It’s a place for someone who just can’t wait to show us what he or she can do that hasn’t been done before.

Branstad took his shot and was rewarded with a long term in office. We’ve seen that movie.