Braley Is In

Accelerating what's likely to be the biggest political story in Iowa for the 2014 cycle, Congressman Bruce Braley announced today that he would be running to fill the retiring Tom Harkin's Senate seat in next year's elections. Braley was initially making noise that he was considering taking on The Moustache in next year's gubenatorial match-up but once Senator Harkin announced his retirement, he switched gears pretty quickly and now has officially thrown his hat into the ring for the Senate.

This is kind of a big deal. For the first time in my lifetime and certainly in my time here in Iowa, we're getting a new Senator. It feels a little like when JP Deuce finally died and I got to see white smoke over the Vatican for the first time-- big, big, generational type of deal. (Though I was less than pleased at the election of Pope Skeletor that resulted from that- but that's another post entirely.) And an open Senate seat is going to attract national money and national attention.

There could also be some open Congressional seats as a result. The DM Register is reporting that Representative Steve King is the favorite of GOPers to take on Braley for the seat and 3rd District GOPer Congressman Tom Latham might also be mulling a run along with Lt. Governor Kim Reynolds. Of the three, I think Reynolds would probably be the best choice- but Latham would be the most pragmatic and probably has the best shot at winning, I think. He's got a rep for being a solid but not tin-foil hat wearing GOPer whereas Steve King, remains, as always, Steve King who would undoubtedly carry on the recent GOPer streak of picking the worst Senate Candidates possible. (There are whispers from the Medium White North that Michelle Bachmann might be mulling a run against Senator Franken next year. I don't know whether to shudder at the thought she might succeed or laugh hysterically at the possibility of her epic failure.)

I'd have to hear a little more from Reynolds before deciding whether or not she'd be a good candidate- as Chief Henchwoman to The Moustache, she's placed somewhat favorably in the irritating but moderately tolerable wing of the GOPers and one of these years Iowa is going to elect a woman to Congress or the Senate, so why not her? (Seriously: I'm really hoping that this is the cycle that does it. I'm tired of being in the same club as Mississippi- we're the two states that haven't had a woman governor, Representative or Senator. It's time.) And if Reynolds isn't up to it there are a few intriguing possibilities out there to potentially fill Congressman Braley's seat if needed, not the least of which is State Senator Liz Mathis. I don't know if she'd be interested or not but she's got name recognition, she's likeable and she seems to be doing a good job down at the Legislature. (Put it this way, I assume elected officials are doing a good job if I don't read about them in the news. Which might be a flawed assumption on my part, I'll grant you.)

Either way- it's interesting times ahead!

(Random Post-Script: I'm really getting tired of 2016 Crystal Ball Gazing by the media. It's not even 2014 for f--k's sake. Yes, we know Governor Jindal is probably going to run. Ditto Senator Rubio, Vice-President Biden and Secretary Clinton and I could give two shits about Governor Christie's weight. Reagen was old as dirt when he became President and managed to keep the place running and an overweight President would only be a reflection of the reality of American and Americans today. I don't care- though I suppose fans of President Taft might resent the possibility of Christie stealing their thunder.)

UPDATED: Well, this is interesting... DM Register published a poll tonight about which candidates Iowans found most appealing and it turns out that former Gov and current Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack takes top spot with 55% and his wife Christie Vilsack slides in just behind him at 42%- though she's saying she's for sure not running. Of the eight candidates on the poll only Vilsack, Braley and Latham were the candidates that Iowans liked more than they didn't. The trio at the bottom of the pile (more Iowans disliked them as candidates than liked them)- The Moustache's Chief Henchwoman, Congressman Steve King and Conservative Activist Bob Vander Plaats ranked at the bottom- 54% didn't like Vander Plaats which is nice.

Yeah. Interesting... Vilsack would be another good choice for Team Blue and it's way too early to start handicapping a Vilsack/Braley primary and it seems my initial instinct about Latham was right- he'd probably be the best candidate for Team Red. We'll just have to wait and see what Team Red comes up with to go for the Senate seat. (As a bonus- turns out KCRG had the same thought I did about Liz Mathis and it turns out she's already been approached about a potential Congressional run.)