US Senate race gives Iowans clear choice
By Mike Glover – AP Political Writer
DES MOINES (AP) — Voters can't complain this year that they don't have a clear choice in the race for the U.S. Senate seat held by Democrat Tom Harkin.
In politics, history, style and personality, Harkin and Republican challenger Christopher Reed offer the starkest of contrasts. They agree on precisely one thing — change.
"Americans of all walks are hungry for change," Harkin argues.
Or as Reed puts it, "Washington is broken and there is no way for it to be fixed by sending the same man back for a fifth term."
From there, voters have a stark choice that in many ways seems to favor Harkin.
Harkin, 68, is arguably the most successful Democratic politician in the state's history.
He was elected to Congress in 1974 in a heavily Republican southwest Iowa district. He then defeated a sitting Republican senator in 1984, a year when President Ronald Reagan swept Iowa and the rest of the country to win a second term.
Harkin now heads the Senate Agriculture Committee and took the lead in a new farm bill that sends billions of dollars in subsidies to Iowa and other farm states. He also heads a budget panel that controls spending on health and education programs, and he authored the landmark Americans with Disabilities Act.
He sought the Democratic presidential nomination in 1992, but faded quickly after poor showings in early primaries.
Harkin's political skills and success have infuriated Republicans, who have made him a top target every six years. Every time he sought re-election, he faced a well-financed member of Congress but always managed to win.
This year, the GOP wasn't able to find a big name to challenge the Democrat.
"No one really who could raise the money and have the stature decided to run against him," said former Iowa Republican Chairman Michael Mahaffey. "I think part of it very honestly is that at the time people were talking about this, it looked to be a very, very difficult year. And part of it very honestly is Tom Harkin is tough."
Reed, 36, stunned the Republican establishment with a 414-vote victory against two better-financed rivals in the June primary after a campaign against "liberalism gone amok." It was his first try at public office.
"As a citizen of this country, if you want change you have the obligation to try," said Reed. "I've been traveling the state extensively."
Reed grew up in tiny Solon, and he said his experience as a wrestler left the greatest imprint on him.
"That experience taught me I have to fight my own battles, but the team always comes first," said Reed.
After high school, Reed spent the next five years in the Navy, then returned to Iowa because he said it's the best place to raise a family. He opened a telephone answering business in Marion, and has run that the last 10 years.
He makes the case that a nontraditional politician has the best shot at Harkin, noting that traditional congressmen all failed to beat the Democrat. He labels Harkin a creature of Washington.
"I live in Iowa for starters," Reed said. "I am the antithesis of Tom Harkin."
While Harkin shaped a farm bill in Congress, Reed said it needs to be scrapped.
"The farm bill is an antiquated bill that was based in the 1930s to help farmers get through the Great Depression," said Reed. "It's no longer doing that."
Reed also suggested that other depression-era programs like Social Security may have been wrong-headed.
In the fundraising competition, Harkin has raised more than $8 million in his re-election bid, dwarfing Reed's finances. In the six-month stretch from January to July, Reed raised $11,000.
Despite the apparent mismatch — or maybe because of it — Harkin has cranked up a political organization that's second to none. He has the luxury of a political base that doesn't need to be reassured, allowing him to reach beyond just Democrats.
"It is by no means only Democrats who want change," said Harkin. "Most independents and, I dare say, a majority of Republicans agree that our country has gotten seriously off track in the last seven years."
In other words, Harkin doesn't want a win, he wants a mandate.
Reed replies that after 34 years in Washington, Harking isn't the best person to bring that change.
"If we really want to enact new ideas and a new attitude in Washington, we can't send the same people back over and over again."
In politics, history, style and personality, Harkin and Republican challenger Christopher Reed offer the starkest of contrasts. They agree on precisely one thing — change.
"Americans of all walks are hungry for change," Harkin argues.
Or as Reed puts it, "Washington is broken and there is no way for it to be fixed by sending the same man back for a fifth term."
From there, voters have a stark choice that in many ways seems to favor Harkin.
Harkin, 68, is arguably the most successful Democratic politician in the state's history.
He was elected to Congress in 1974 in a heavily Republican southwest Iowa district. He then defeated a sitting Republican senator in 1984, a year when President Ronald Reagan swept Iowa and the rest of the country to win a second term.
Harkin now heads the Senate Agriculture Committee and took the lead in a new farm bill that sends billions of dollars in subsidies to Iowa and other farm states. He also heads a budget panel that controls spending on health and education programs, and he authored the landmark Americans with Disabilities Act.
He sought the Democratic presidential nomination in 1992, but faded quickly after poor showings in early primaries.
Harkin's political skills and success have infuriated Republicans, who have made him a top target every six years. Every time he sought re-election, he faced a well-financed member of Congress but always managed to win.
This year, the GOP wasn't able to find a big name to challenge the Democrat.
"No one really who could raise the money and have the stature decided to run against him," said former Iowa Republican Chairman Michael Mahaffey. "I think part of it very honestly is that at the time people were talking about this, it looked to be a very, very difficult year. And part of it very honestly is Tom Harkin is tough."
Reed, 36, stunned the Republican establishment with a 414-vote victory against two better-financed rivals in the June primary after a campaign against "liberalism gone amok." It was his first try at public office.
"As a citizen of this country, if you want change you have the obligation to try," said Reed. "I've been traveling the state extensively."
Reed grew up in tiny Solon, and he said his experience as a wrestler left the greatest imprint on him.
"That experience taught me I have to fight my own battles, but the team always comes first," said Reed.
After high school, Reed spent the next five years in the Navy, then returned to Iowa because he said it's the best place to raise a family. He opened a telephone answering business in Marion, and has run that the last 10 years.
He makes the case that a nontraditional politician has the best shot at Harkin, noting that traditional congressmen all failed to beat the Democrat. He labels Harkin a creature of Washington.
"I live in Iowa for starters," Reed said. "I am the antithesis of Tom Harkin."
While Harkin shaped a farm bill in Congress, Reed said it needs to be scrapped.
"The farm bill is an antiquated bill that was based in the 1930s to help farmers get through the Great Depression," said Reed. "It's no longer doing that."
Reed also suggested that other depression-era programs like Social Security may have been wrong-headed.
In the fundraising competition, Harkin has raised more than $8 million in his re-election bid, dwarfing Reed's finances. In the six-month stretch from January to July, Reed raised $11,000.
Despite the apparent mismatch — or maybe because of it — Harkin has cranked up a political organization that's second to none. He has the luxury of a political base that doesn't need to be reassured, allowing him to reach beyond just Democrats.
"It is by no means only Democrats who want change," said Harkin. "Most independents and, I dare say, a majority of Republicans agree that our country has gotten seriously off track in the last seven years."
In other words, Harkin doesn't want a win, he wants a mandate.
Reed replies that after 34 years in Washington, Harking isn't the best person to bring that change.
"If we really want to enact new ideas and a new attitude in Washington, we can't send the same people back over and over again."
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