Discussion of candidates for Iowa US Senate. Harkin not running re-election in Iowa

[Uriah]

Is he up for running? How would you grade him against Dave Fischer (the other one you guys seem to like)? What about issues like the Patriot Act and NDAA? Bachmann was awful on those, and they don't really come up on the state level. Do we have any indication of either of their feelings on that?

I don't think he is up for running. He seems to be focused on state issues. He has only served two years as a state senator. He has little name recognition state wide. Plus, half of his current district is new to him due to redistricting. He has limited himself to serve two terms. If he wins reelection he could run for higher office in 2018.

I'm unsure of his view on NDAA and Patriot Act. He describes himself as a constitutional libertarian. I think he leans more social conservative than the typical Paul supporter. In the interview posted above he expresses his support for Brad Zaun for US Senate.

Below, Brad Zaun at 2012 GOP state convention. This was my first introduction to him. He ran for US congress recently so there are videos of him on youtube. Zaun publicly said he was interested in the US Senate seat.




A couple videos of Mark Chelgren.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7MfgS1ekrGA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&v=JBfWpPupn1Q&feature=endscreen

 

[sailingaway]

Thanks. He sounds good. We should keep an eye on him, in any event.

 

[John of Des Moines]

Thanks. He sounds good. We should keep an eye on him, in any event.

Chelgren is a good guy, not a lawyer but still runs the legislature's constitutional caucus. I'd support him.

 

[Uriah]

Sounds like at least three candidates will announce now that Steve King is out. Paul Lunde, Joni Ernst, and Matt Whitaker have all indicated that they would like to run. I don't think any of them are a liberty candidate but I am unsure about Lunde. I've never heard of him. This could be a crowded field and that helps us.

Now we need a liberty candidate to jump in the race.

 

[Spoa]

Sounds like at least three candidates will announce now that Steve King is out. Paul Lunde, Joni Ernst, and Matt Whitaker have all indicated that they would like to run. I don't think any of them are a liberty candidate but I am unsure about Lunde. I've never heard of him. This could be a crowded field and that helps us.

Now we need a liberty candidate to jump in the race.

Actually, Whitaker has said he would like to follow in Rand's footsteps and be a partner of his and Cruz in the US Senate.

 

[Uriah]

Actually, Whitaker has said he would like to follow in Rand's footsteps and be a partner of his and Cruz in the US Senate.

Yeah, just found that. http://blogs.desmoinesregister.com/...taker-says-hes-running-for-u-s-senate/article

 

[supermario21]

Well that's good. Plus this guy seems popular and well-polished.

 

[sailingaway]

Actually, Whitaker has said he would like to follow in Rand's footsteps and be a partner of his and Cruz in the US Senate.

A lot of people will say things to get support when you have a power base there. Is he credible in the role?

 

[pulp8721]

A lot of people will say things to get support when you have a power base there. Is he credible in the role?

http:/ /theiowarepublican.com/2012/matt-whitaker-to-represent-zach-edwards/

The Associated Press has reported that Des Moines attorney Matt Whitaker is representing Zach Edwards, the man accused of stealing the identity of Iowa Secretary of State Matt Shultz in an effort to falsely implicate Schultz in illegal activity.​

Whitaker is a former U.S. Attorney under the Bush Administration. He was the Republican nominee for State Treasurer in 2002. More recently, he served as the Iowa campaign chairman for both Tim Pawlenty’s and Rick Perry’s presidential campaigns and has since supported Mitt Romney.
Edwards is an odd client for the politically ambitious Whitaker. Many Iowa Republicans are disturbed by Edwards’ actions. Many believe that Whitaker is interested in running for office again, but defending a Democrat operative who tried to steal a Republican office holder’s identity would surely become an issue in a primary.
​

 

[Uriah]

Actually, Whitaker has said he would like to follow in Rand's footsteps and be a partner of his and Cruz in the US Senate.

He didn't actually say that. Listen here, starts about 12:20

http://www.whoradio.com/player/?mid...ogram_id=simonconway.xml&program_name=podcast

 

[Peace&Freedom]

Harkin won re-election by 54% in 2002, and by 64% in 2008. Even counting for the Obama factor in '08, it gives me the impression the state is trending Democratic, increasingly. As I suggested in other situations like this, why not get behind a libertarian candidate who's willing to run as a pro-liberty/tea party candidate in the Democratic primary, instead of attempting to swim uphill trying to elect a Republican in a Democratic trending state?

 

[Bastiat's The Law]

We don't have the resources to infiltrate the democratic party, and besides, it would be terrible strategy.

 

[cindy25]

Harkin is popular but so is Grassley

Iowa is, and will remain for a long time, a toss up state.

It does have an anti-war tradition, maybe Kucinich could move there and run for the senate.

 

[sailingaway]

Harkin won re-election by 54% in 2002, and by 64% in 2008. Even counting for the Obama factor in '08, it gives me the impression the state is trending Democratic, increasingly. As I suggested in other situations like this, why not get behind a libertarian candidate who's willing to run as a pro-liberty/tea party candidate in the Democratic primary, instead of attempting to swim uphill trying to elect a Republican in a Democratic trending state?

Do we have a name?

I could get behind Robin k in Washington as a Dem if he ran, despite my differences with him on some issues. I think he got bitten bad by the r3VOLution and I like that in a person.

 

[Uriah]

Harkin won re-election by 54% in 2002, and by 64% in 2008. Even counting for the Obama factor in '08, it gives me the impression the state is trending Democratic, increasingly. As I suggested in other situations like this, why not get behind a libertarian candidate who's willing to run as a pro-liberty/tea party candidate in the Democratic primary, instead of attempting to swim uphill trying to elect a Republican in a Democratic trending state?

As an Iowan, Iowa is a tossup state.

Harkin ran against Christopher Reed in 2008. Who is that? Exactly.

 

[Peace&Freedom]

We don't have the resources to infiltrate the democratic party, and besides, it would be terrible strategy.

You mean terrible, compared to running a Republican to take a seat that has been easily held by Democrats for 30 years? Even when the opponent spent a lot of money against the incumbent in 2002, Harkin still won decisively. Where is the election result evidence that Iowa is a toss-up state when it comes to US Senate? Exactly. The suggestion I made does not involve infiltrating the Democratic Party (or the Republican party, for that matter), but simply approaching a local Democrat who supported Paul in 2008 or 2012 about running (check the local meet-up and donation lists for a start).

Failing that, there is a LP in Iowa, and a libertarian activist could be quickly recruited to run in the Democratic primary. That's not resource intensive, that's as little as one person making a few calls. The point is, stop ignoring the way the district/state trends, which leads to self-defeating plans about running low percentage campaigns. Let somebody lift a finger to field liberty people from either big party based on lists already available, or borrow the LP or CP people to run as either Democrats or Republicans, depending on the opening. Let's not leave half of the winnable open seat opportunities on the table.