Prominent attorney Roxanne Conlin spoke to the Des Moines Register on Thursday about a possible Senate bid next year.
Link:
“I never thought I’d run again,” Conlin said at her home in Des Moines. “But in my lifetime, I don’t ever want to say, ‘If only I had followed my dream or followed my heart.’ ”
“What has changed for me is Grassley.”
Conlin said she is “more likely than not” running, but first needs to iron out how she would staff a campaign and handle her law practice before making a final decision, which she expects to announce by next month.
She said she talked about running at length with state party chairman Michael Kiernan, who said last month a well-known Democrat was planning to enter the race. “I don’t know how this is going to come together, but I have reached the point where I would like to do it,” she said. […]
Conlin said Grassley’s tone on health care reform at public appearances in Iowa last summer pushed her toward running. […]
Conlin accused Grassley of being disingenuous, noting that he circulated a fundraising brochure stating he was working to defeat “Obama-care,” while continuing to participate in bipartisan negotiations.
“That’s not the Chuck Grassley I thought this state elected, and it really was a watershed moment for me,” Conlin said.
Conlin was the Democratic nominee for governor in 1982, the first year Terry Branstad was elected. Before that, she ran the civil rights division of the Iowa Attorney General’s Office and was the U.S. attorney for the southern district of Iowa.
She’s been a highly successful plaintiff’s attorney since 1983 and was the first woman president of the Association of Trial Lawyers of America. In addition,
She founded and was the first chair of the Iowa Women’s Political caucus, and was president and general counsel of the NOW Legal Defense and Education Fund. Most recently, she has been named by the National Law Journal as one of the fifty most influential women lawyers in America, one of the 100 most influential lawyers in America and one of the top 10 litigators.
If Conlin runs, she will be a lightning rod for attacks from Republicans and corporate-funded political organizations. On the plus side, she is a powerful public speaker and may be able to drive up turnout, especially among women voters. She will also be able to raise more than enough money to run a serious campaign against Grassley. Earlier this month, Research 2000 found Grassley leading Conlin by 51 percent to 39 percent among Iowa voters.
Grassley’s job approvals need to tank more than they have before anyone can beat him, and it’s doubtful health care alone will push his numbers down much if any further.
But the simple fact Conlin has run a serious statewide race and also has huge fundraising capacity automatically make her a serious enough candidate to force Grassley to play some defense. It ties up some GOP money that would go elsewhere, while not tying up the same Dem resources that would go elsewhere. And it helps the national pundit narrative for Democratic recruitment and competitiveness of GOP-held seats.
of course without the baggage. I’ve never heard her speak, though.
From what I know of her, Conlin seems like a great second tier candidate, and what’s more, she’s an impressive lady at that. I think this will very likely be the Virginia of 2010, with Grassley proving increasingly gaffe prone and standing in the way of popular legislation, it’s just a matter of time before he implodes.
for John McCAin
but in all seriousness, this is a very good get for the Dems even if we don’t win here.
Conlin can keep Grassley at home and the Republicans will have no choice but to defend him. Meanwhile, the Dems can choose whether or not they want to dump big bucks into this race.
I’m hoping Conlin opens up her pocket book and buries the GOP with cash.