Iowa's Sen. Harkin [D] to retire: Won't seek re-election

KWWL.com ^ | 1-26-2013 | Dan Schillinger

[fieldmarshaldj]

CUMMING (AP) - Iowa Senator Tom Harkin said he will not seek re-election in 2014.

The 73-year-old told The Associated Press in an interview, "It's just time to step aside."

By the time Harkin would finish a sixth term, he would be 81 years old.

[Impy]

Hi Randita, nice to see you. I don’t think I’ve seen you post since the election.

[Impy]

Paultards took over Iowa too? Lame.

[Impy]

King has too much of a Bachmann kinda reputation, risky. He was never gonna lose to Lady Vilsack but his margin wasn’t great he pretty much matched Romney’s % in the district.

Latham. I also didn’t know he was that old. Not really a problem just means he won’t be there as long, and his House seat would be at risk (King’s would be much lower risk).

The statewide downballot office Republicans interest me. There are 4 of them. Surely at least 1 must be interested?

[Conservativegreatgrandma]

We can dream, can’t we?

[randita]

I took a little hiatus from FR and other political sites. Election overload.

Now that most of the fallout has dispersed, I’m dipping my toes back in again. ;)

[ken5050]

We may yet manage to screw it up..it's what we do, but one has to be positive, optimistic. Otherwise it's hard to gear up for all the hard work, the ground game, the grunt work that must be done.

If we fail to take the Senate in 2014, then we seriously need to start thinking about a third party.

[FlingWingFlyer]

This is good news. One less sleazebag on Capitol Hill.

[Da Bilge Troll]

I'd wait until the primary is over and then start full speed ahead to defeat the RAT

Thanks for your reply.

You may be right. At this stage, I'd just like to develop some contacts so that we can discuss and plan. I know the rats are already at work - we can't afford to wait until 2014.

[Lurking Libertarian]

Iowa has long been the most politically bi-polar state

Please forgive a possibly ignorant question, but I have never understood Iowa politically. It is in the farm belt, its population is 90% white, it doesn't seem like the kind of state to vote Democratic, but it does pretty often. What gives?

[ken5050]

I'm no expert, but is seems that the eastern half of the state is far more liberal/Democrat, while the western half is conservative/Republican ( or maybe it's the other way around)

However, since senate races are state-wide it still makes no sense that they kept on election Grassley ANDHarkin.