Breaking: Tom Harkin to retire

[Gass3268]

A loss for Iowa and the United States.

Agreed!

[Paul Kemp]

"You know something, we're not just gonna go to New Hampshire... Tom Harkin..."

[Vosem]

Basically, we just need to convince Latham to run. With that, this seat becomes Lean/Likely R. Otherwise this is a Democratic-leaning toss up.

[Maxwell]

Ugggh Steve King.

[morgieb]

Urgh, at least I think King will win the nomination, and he's too conservative for the general.

[Maxwell]

Urgh, at least I think King will win the nomination, and he's too conservative for the general.

I really hope the era of 2010-isms come to an end with a King defeat.

[○∙◄☻¥tπ[╪AV┼cVê└]

Sad, he's one of the few Senators who is any good. His successor will be nowhere as good.

[○∙◄☻¥tπ[╪AV┼cVê└]

I was expecting him to run again, but I can see why he's retiring. He was very frustrated that the Senate leadership punted on filibuster reform.

Yep.  That's what I was planning to say too.  I am not surprised at all to hear this.
Harkin is a good guy and he will be missed.  I am however optimistic that the Democrats can keep the seat.

He was also upset about the fiscal cliff capitulation.

[Rooney]

I never voted for Harkin but I really never minded the guy. I liked his dedication to open government. Braley will be a much worse senator. I am no expert on the politics of my state (or any other for that matter) but I would assume the 2014 U.S. Senate race will be Braley vs. King and Braley will win by six or seven points. The race for Braley and King's house seats may be interesting. This also means the Democrats will have to put up with Governor Culver as their governor nominee for a third time, that is unless Tom Vilsack gives up his desk job at the Wallace Building and return to Mount Pleasant. Vilsack vs. Branstad would be an epic battle of Iowan political heavyweights and also an amazing struggle of awkward names.

[Torie]

Steve King is the best representative of the Republican brand in the state and should be the candidate.

LOL. Thanks for the advice from the opposition! 

[RogueBeaver]

King said that this is an "opportunity to elect a constitutional conservative."  Sigh. Gotta hope he can be talked out of this.

[Landslide Lyndon]

@ppppolls

Steve King's statewide fav rating was 29/34 the last time we polled Iowa. But Republicans (57/8) like him more than Tom Latham (36/13)

[nolesfan2011]

Sad to see him go personally, he was a good senator, he cared etc. This has to be one of the greatest campaign ads of all time in my book http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=keOoAICkJs4

Interesting Senate election is afoot.. personally I would like to see Chet Culver run on the Dem side (please no Monsanto Vilsack).

And if Steve King gets the GOP nom.. lol.

Per an interview with the AP. So Braley will have to choose between taking on the Branstad juggernaut or going for an open seat.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/ap-newsbreak-iowa-democrat-tom-harkin-says-he-will-not-seek-6th-senate-term/2013/01/26/2aab80c4-67cb-11e2-83c7-38d5fac94235_story.html

[politicallefty]

How much do you guys think his decision was made over not getting the bigger filibuster reforms that he was helping to push?

That was my first thought as well. I think he's just fed up with it, and I can't blame him at all.

To echo those of the left, please let Steve King be the Republican nominee (and I think he's got it if he runs). It won't even matter who we put up if he's the nominee.

[Knives]

Apparently, at least according to someone I know who used to work for the senator, now works in Australia - his wife Ruth and he always had some plan that when he retires, she'll run for something.

[Oldiesfreak1854]

Rejoice! Rejoice, I say!

Now let's get Branstad or Latham to replace him!

[Mad Deadly Worldwide Communist Gangster Computer God]

@ppppolls

Steve King's statewide fav rating was 29/34 the last time we polled Iowa. But Republicans (57/8) like him more than Tom Latham (36/13)

[RogueBeaver]

Braley is interested.

http://blogs.desmoinesregister.com/dmr/index.php/2013/01/27/braley-on-possible-u-s-senate-bid-ive-been-overwhelmed-with-encouragement/article

[Grumpier Than Uncle Joe]

R+1

[Zioneer]

R+1

Unless Steve King is nominated, then it's a Dem hold, easily.

[RogueBeaver]

He has to be eased out gently if possible. Anything else will backfire.

[krazen1211]

Latham + 1. Next.

[Brittain33]

Latham + 1. Next.

...

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[krazen1211]

http://www.gis.co.polk.ia.us/election/Election_summary.asp?Contest_Type=1&Report_Type=contested&Election_Date=20121106

Behold Mr. Latham going into hostile territory and giving the incumbent Democrat a nice thrashing.

[Keystone Phil]

Making up quotes is generally frowned upon here.