IA-Sen: Will Grassley get the "race of his life"?

by desmoinesdem, Fri Sep 25, 2009 at 01:52:42 PM EDT

Senator Chuck Grassley is seeking a sixth term in 2010, and Iowa Democrats have never managed to give him a tough re-election race before. However, today Iowa Democratic Party chair Michael Kiernan spoke confidently about a "first-round draft pick" who is ready to run against Grassley, Kay Henderson reported for Radio Iowa.

"I'm going to tell you here today that Chuck Grassley is going to be in for the race of his life." [...]
"You're just going to have to wait to find out," Kiernan said this morning during taping of this weekend's "Iowa Press" program. "We want to wait 'til, obviously, after Terry Branstad announced his candidacy for governor."
Kiernan isn't revealing the characteristics this phantom candidate may have either. "I'll just wait for the announcement," Kiernan said. "You will be impressed." [...]
"I'm here to tell you today that it will be the toughest race that Chuck Grassley has faced since John Culver," Kiernan said.

Grassley defeated Senator John Culver (Governor Chet Culver's father) in the 1980 Reagan landslide.

Speaking to reporters after today's taping, Kiernan said the big-name challenger is "100 percent committed" to this race.

Your guess is as good as mine. A retired politician? Former first lady Christie Vilsack? A celebrity in a non-political field? Someone from the business world? (Retired Principal Financial Group CEO Barry Griswell has ruled out running, as has Fred Hubbell, the incoming interim director of the Iowa Department of Economic Development.)

Grassley's approval rating has fallen this year, but it'll take a lot to convince me that we can defeat him. He's still got a strong brand name and 30 years of constituent service behind him.

Tags: 2010 elections, Barry Griswell, Christie Vilsack, Chuck Grassley, Congress, Fred Hubbell, IA-Sen, Iowa, Iowa Democratic Party, Michael Kiernan, Senate (all tags)

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I'm thinking Michael Phelps!

He just has to move to Iowa, and for Gawds sakes, put down that Bong!

by WashStateBlue 2009-09-25 02:02PM | 0 recs

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but seriously

I am wondering if it's some totally out of the box person, like a former sports star. We don't have a lot of big-name retired politicians. I can't imagine Vilsack would want to leave the USDA to campaign against Grassley.

In 2006 Democrats were nervous for a while when legendary wrestler/U of Iowa wrestling coach Dan Gable was considering running for governor as a Republican.

by desmoinesdem 2009-09-25 02:21PM | 0 recs

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A lot of ex jocks tend to be Republicans

Rich "don't tax me" types....at least, the pro-jocks are when they retire.

I remember Sir Charles Barkley was claiming he was going to run for Gov of Alabama as a Republican?

I was thinking Hayden Fry, but he is too old, and maybe no one remembers the glory days of Iowa football anyway? We still hate him out here for the 1995 Sun Bowl against my alma-mater, the U-Dub Huskies...(that's OK, we kicked his ass in two Rose bowls before that...)

by WashStateBlue 2009-09-25 02:40PM | 0 recs

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While We're Talking Out of the Box

Since no one seems to have a clue, I'm just gonna throw a name out there with a little circumstantial evidence: Ashton Kutcher. He's from Cedar Rapids and did all right as a panelist on Bill Maher a few weeks ago. Wasn't a bombthrower either and was very careful how he articulated his political persuasion as a social liberal and a fiscal (I can't remember whether he said moderate or conservative). Although he referred to John Boehner as Senator Boehner multiple times before he was corrected.

It has to be someone with lots of money, name recognition, or both if they're waiting for Branstad to announce. That could be anytime. And btw, Kutcher is just over the age barrier to be a Senator. He's 31.

by pbcliberaldem 2009-09-25 02:30PM | 0 recs

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could be

An Iowa journalist/blogger has touted Kutcher as a good challenger for Steve King in IA-05.

by desmoinesdem 2009-09-25 02:34PM | 0 recs

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Re: could be

Who can't be serious. Whatever his credentials might be he's Mr Young Hollywood writ large. Good o'll farm boy types will wipe him out.

by vecky 2009-09-25 02:46PM | 0 recs

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Gawd, I HATE Steve King....

But, isn't his district really REALLY red?

From his Wicki, it says Ashton describes himself as a fiscal conservative and a social liberal.

King of course, is a firebreathing social conservative, so that would be an interesting match up.

Of course, Ashton could have Demi campaign, all the older white males would trip over their tongues for drooling...

by WashStateBlue 2009-09-25 02:46PM | 0 recs

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Doesn't he live in Idaho though

and didn't he grow up on the other side of the state?

by DTOzone 2009-09-25 08:05PM | 0 recs

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Pound him, pound him, pound him on his opposition

to the Public Option.

Pound him into the ground, and then pound him lower.

by commentist 2009-09-25 03:52PM | 0 recs

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Re: IA-Sen: Will Grassley get the

I have to imagine that Grassley has lost a lot of credibility with everyone 'cos of his antics this summer... I think that many voters who would have once voted for him without second thought may be ready to reexamine Grassley as a candidate.

by LordMike 2009-09-25 04:32PM | 0 recs

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I know some Dems and indies

who used to think Grassley wasn't "that bad" but are thoroughly fed up with him now.

by desmoinesdem 2009-09-25 05:21PM | 0 recs

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"race of his life"?

I think it's interesting that they're waiting for Branstad to announce. Maybe Chet Culver will decide against running for reelection and try to get his dad's seat back instead? Grassley is arguably going to be easier to beat than Terry.

by Vox Populi 2009-09-26 01:19PM | 0 recs

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Why not Vilsack?

Why doesn't anybody think it's Gov. Vilsack?

by Bush Bites 2009-09-26 05:13PM | 0 recs

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Chet Culver

Prediction: If Terry Branstad runs for governor, Chet Culver will run against Chuck Grassley.

by darrenfelipe 2009-09-26 07:42PM | 0 recs

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grassley

I hope its Roxanne Conlin. Tenacious and never gives up. At least that's how she practices law.

by Facts are good things 2009-09-27 05:02AM | 0 recs