Posted on 08/22/2002 4:19:12 PM PDT by BlackRazor
Ganske: ethics violation claims bogus
By:Jason Kristufek August 22, 2002
Republican Congressman Greg Ganske said claims he committed an ethics violation are bogus, politically inspired attacks.
Ganske, who has taken on the task of trying to unseat Democratic Sen. Tom Harkin, made an unscheduled stop at the Memorial Union on the campus of Iowa State University Wednesday. It was his first campaign stop in Ames.
Pundits have called the Iowa race for Senate one of the top three races in the country that will help decide the majority party come next year.
"This is typical of the Tom Harkin campaign," Ganske said.
State Democratic leaders say Ganske used a taxpayer-funded mailing to publicize a town hall meeting Monday in Des Moines.
Democrats, who videotaped the meeting, provided a transcript that quotes Ganske discussing the upcoming election and suggesting that voters should consider the impact on Medicare of a change in the majority control of the U.S. Senate.
"When you live in a glass house, watch where you throw stones," Ganske said of Harkin in response to the allegations.
The Ganske campaign also went on the attack Wednesday, accusing Harkin of ethical lapses dating back to 1972.
"Iowans don't need ethics lessons from Tom Harkin," a campaign statement said.
Ganske noted Harkin failed to disclose about $200,000 in Conoco stock holdings. Harkin's wife sits on the board of directors for Conoco.
"To most Iowans, $200,000 is a large amount of money," Ganske said. "But Tom Harkin isn't like most Iowans. Remember, he said he believes $6 billion is just pencil dust."
Ganske said local control over education, keeping Social Security supplements for younger generations, prescription drugs and health care will be key issues in the election.
He also is in favor of exploring alternative fuel sources, including the expansion of ethanol production nationwide.
Ganske cut the ribbon this week at a soy-diesel facility in Ralston, the biggest such plant in the nation. He also opened the Coon Rapids ethanol plant, the biggest in Iowa.
"Let's get past these petty personal attacks," Ganske said. "We want to get Tom Harkin out and make him answer questions about his record."
In 1994, Ganske pulled of one of the biggest political upsets in recent Iowa history, knocking off 34-year incumbent Neal Smith. Ganske said three recent polls show Harkin with less than 50 percent of the vote, and he think an upset is in the works.
"For an incumbent with 100 percent recognition to be below 50 percent is a very dangerous thing," Ganske said. "We are within single digits. We are closer to him than anyone has ever been at this time."
Can anyone from Iowa comment as to how effective a campaigner Gankse is?
I hate to bring up the last Harkin campaign because it is so painful. We had Jim Lightfoot ready to win, and Clinton came in on election eve and every TV station in Iowa showed Clinton begging Iowans to vote for Harkin for two hours in prime time. It was sick. Lost by a few percentage points. Hope Bush returns the favor.
I was disgusted with the way Ganske ran against Bill Salier in the primary.
But you gotta love how he's taking it to 'Commie Tommy' as quoted by the Ames paper...and Ganske certainly ran a great campaign against Neil Smith to win his House seat.
I have said all along that Harkin is very much beatable...and while Dr. Ganske is not one of my favorite people, I certainly am hoping, praying and working towards his victory on November 5th.
Regards, EV
I am amazed at the number of Republicans who find it difficult to vote for him.
He does seem to be sticking it to Harkin.
Gross is also running an effective campaign against Vilsack for Governor.
He did do a unity appearance with Salier after the primary, didn't he?
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