In late February, Representative Tom Latham (R, IA-03) indicated that he did not plan to run for Iowa’s open U.S. Senate seat in 2014. I took his statement at face value, especially since he told a conservative radio host that lack of interest in campaigning steered him away from a Senate race that otherwise “was a very, very good opportunity.”
Some politics watchers noted that Latham carefully wrote in his e-mail to supporters, “I cannot in good conscience launch a two-year statewide campaign that will detract from the commitment I made to the people who elected me, at a time when our nation desperately needs less campaigning and more leadership.” In other words, he didn’t explicitly rule out joining the Senate race later. Maybe those skeptics were on to something.
Shane Goldmacher reported for the National Journal on April 19,
Rep. Tom Latham’s recent declaration that he wouldn’t run for the Senate was cheered by [Representative Greg] Walden, the NRCC [National Republican Congressional Committee] chairman. But Latham’s statement left some wiggle room, and he has maintained contact with the NRSC [National Republican Senatorial Committee], according to a person familiar with those talks.
Hat tip to Taniel.
Many Iowa Republicans from Governor Terry Branstad on down would be happy to see Latham ride in on his white horse in early 2014. He has obvious strengths as a candidate, especially compared to lesser-known and untested Republicans. He could raise a lot of money quickly to cut into Democratic candidate Bruce Braley’s financial advantage.
On the other hand, Latham’s wiggle room may deter other potentially good candidates from launching a statewide Senate campaign this summer. Who wants to spend months working hard at fundraising and traveling all over the state, only to be bigfooted by Latham?
I still believe that Latham will stay on relatively safe ground in IA-03 rather than risk a Senate race he could lose, either in the GOP primary or to Braley.
What do you think, Bleeding Heartland readers? Any comments about the IA-Sen race are welcome in this thread.
P.S. – Likely GOP Senate candidate Matt Whitaker was a guest on Dave Price’s Sunday morning television show on April 14. (The other guest on that show was Braley’s campaign manager, Jeff Link.) Whitaker is a former University of Iowa football star who served as U.S. attorney for the southern district of Iowa during George W. Bush’s administration. He is now a managing partner in the uber-connected Des Moines law firm Whitaker Hagenow & Gustoff LLP.
5 Comments
People change their minds sometimes, but not often
I think the only way Latham changes his mind is if his primary reason for balking in the first place was personal doubt he could win. If he thinks that’s changed b/c his chances in the primary and/or general are better than he previously thought, then he might change his mind and run.
But there shouldn’t be anything else he considered that could cause him to change his mind. His reelection in IA-03 is an equally good bet as before, his relationship w/Boehner and his seniority in the House are still the same. To the extent those things drove his decision, they would cause him to stick to it.
dccyclone Mon 22 Apr 10:09 AM
Braley
I didn’t know Braley’s campaign manager was Mr. Link, there’s a talking point they can use right off the bat. ):
moderateiadem Mon 22 Apr 2:08 PM
Link's consulting firm
has handled campaigns for Braley before, and it’s never become a salient issue.
desmoinesdem Mon 22 Apr 6:57 PM
nothing much to add
Just think it’d be fun/interesting to live in a state with a knock out primary between Tea Partiers and establishment. Little jealous some of the other states had all the fun with crazy comments.
natewithglasses Mon 22 Apr 5:45 PM
Link
They may not use it, but I don’t think they will let the Link matter go with Anderson probably on the general election ballot as well.
moderateiadem Mon 22 Apr 9:15 PM