Tag: Christie Vilsack

It sounds like Christie Vilsack may have been the mystery candidate who was poised to give Chuck Grassley the race of his life. Vilsack, wife to former Governor and current Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, told WHO-TV that she’s strongly considering the race, although not fully committed yet:

“I am honored that people would think of me in that way and would talk to me about running for any office and I think I’m well-qualified to run,” Vilsack said.  “I think I’m qualified to serve, so time will tell.”

Vilsack isn’t ready to jump in the race just yet – and she’s giving herself enough room to decide not to run.

Although Vilsack hasn’t held office herself before, she’d bring name recognition and Beltway connections to the race, putting it squarely on the map for next year — especially in view of the nosedive in Grassley’s approvals in the wake of his health care obstructionism. (H/t Taegan.)

RaceTracker Wiki: IA-Sen

Senator Chuck Grassley is seeking a sixth term in 2010, and Iowa Democrats have never managed to give him a tough re-election race before. However, today Iowa Democratic Party chair Michael Kiernan spoke confidently about a “first-round draft pick” who is ready to run against Grassley, Kay Henderson reported for Radio Iowa.

“I’m going to tell you here today that Chuck Grassley is going to be in for the race of his life.” […]

“You’re just going to have to wait to find out,” Kiernan said this morning during taping of this weekend’s “Iowa Press” program.  “We want to wait ’til, obviously, after Terry Branstad announced his candidacy for governor.”

Kiernan isn’t revealing the characteristics this phantom candidate may have either. “I’ll just wait for the announcement,” Kiernan said.  “You will be impressed.” […]

“I’m here to tell you today that it will be the toughest race that Chuck Grassley has faced since John Culver,” Kiernan said.

Grassley defeated Senator John Culver (Governor Chet Culver’s father) in the 1980 Reagan landslide.

Speaking to reporters after today’s taping, Kiernan said the big-name challenger is “100 percent committed” to this race.

Your guess is as good as mine. A retired politician? Former first lady Christie Vilsack? A celebrity in a non-political field? Someone from the business world? (Retired Principal Financial Group CEO Barry Griswell has ruled out running, as has Fred Hubbell, the incoming interim director of the Iowa Department of Economic Development.)

Grassley’s approval rating has fallen this year, but it’ll take a lot to convince me that we can defeat him. He’s still got a strong brand name and 30 years of constituent service behind him.