Earlier this week Senate Guru laid out some reasons why Senator Chuck Grassley might retire rather than seek a sixth term.
Iowa Independent asked the senator’s office about the rumors and got this reply:
“We appreciate you taking time to check with us. Those writing these reports haven’t ever done so,” said Beth Pellett Levine, Grassley’s press secretary. “Sen. Grassley has held eight fundraisers since Election Day, and 10 more are scheduled. Like he’s always said, Sen. Grassley is running for reelection to the U.S. Senate.”
I’m still in favor of a serious candidate taking on Grassley, but who will rise to the challenge?
Last month Chase Martyn discussed some possibilities on the Democratic bench.
Over the weekend Republican insider Doug Gross speculated that attorney Roxanne Conlin, the Democratic nominee for governor in 1982, might run against Grassley. However, Conlin immediately denied the rumor:
“I can tell you that it never crossed my mind,” Conlin said. “Really, it’s not something I’m going to do.”[…]
“I really think this is a fund-raising ploy for Grassley,” she said. “That is the only reason I can possibly think Doug would have said such a thing because it’s not based in fact.”
That sounds about right.
2 Comments
Grassley isn't going to make himself a lame duck
by announcing until he has to. The Finance Committee is going to be handling some interesting stuff and he gets along with Baucus, so he might want to stay. Or go on his own timetable. The Iowa GOP has not treated him with the deference he probably thinks he deserves, so why should he make it easy for them to come up with a candidate in a year when they will probably lose anyway?
riverdog9 Wed 14 Jan 4:07 PM
Grassley's "pet causes"
Don’t forget that Grassley is always coming up with pet issues to chase. Remember his crusade on televangelists and his investigation into big-time doctors and big pharma?
Not to say those aren’t worthy causes, but Grassley will find a way to keep himself busy chasing down his pet causes.
american007 Wed 14 Jan 4:24 PM