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Subscribe to RSSIOWA: Congressman and kingmaker Rep. Steve King (R-IA) says the Republican primary has gotten off to a slow start because potential frontrunners like Mitt Romney, Mike Huckabee and Sarah Palin haven’t been engaged in Iowa, the Globe Gazette writes.
“Tax watchdog Ed Failor Jr., an influential player in Iowa Republican politics, has resigned as president of Iowans for Tax Relief ‘to pursue exciting opportunities,’ he said in an e-mail Monday,” the Des Moines Register reports.
WISCONSIN: “Former state Sen. Pat Kreitlow (D) has announced plans to challenge GOP freshman Rep. Sean Duffy in Wisconsin’s 7th district, a seat Democrats view as a top pickup opportunity in 2012,” Roll Call writes, adding, “Kreitlow, a former television news anchor, flirted with a Congressional run last cycle, when Rep. David Obey’s (D) retirement left the seat open.”
SOUTH CAROLINA: Sen. Jim DeMint (R-SC) is heading to New Hampshire on Friday for a presidential “Summit on Spending and Job Creation,” McClatchy writes. The New Hampshire chapter of Americans for Prosperity is hosting the summit and the group will also hold a dinner honoring Ovide Lamontagne, a prominent state conservative and former gubernatorial candidate.
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Seems likely than Palin hasn't been to Iowa because she doesn't plan to run--her expiration date expired and she's not about to give up the money she's making. Neither is Huckabee. Romney was 2nd choice in 2008 so Iowa voters already know him--why bother coming until absolutely necessary. For that matter, it is possible Romney won't run either.
The local paper reported Ed Failor's decision to look for other "exciting opportunities". Should be interesting to see where he heads. Maybe he'll go work for Grover Nordquist, his hero.
Congressman and "kingmaker" Steve King may have the first serious challenger for his seat in 2012, popular former Iowa First Lady Christie Vilsak. If she decides to run, it will be an interesting and tough fight. One of the things Vilsak would have in her favor--King's "yes" vote to eliminate and privatize medicare; she would also speak to women voters who would very much like to have a female representative in Congress. King's district is very Tea Party like conservative but even the TPers like their medicare. Whether she can win or not, who knows. King has served 10 years but the redistricting map now includes parts of the more moderate GOP representaive Tom Latham's district. Latham has indicated he will challenge democrat Leonard Boswell. Boswell's new district will include parts of Latham's old district plus the liberal areas of that new district. Latham also voted "yes" to eliminate and privatize medicare. Iowa has an older population so that will hurt his chances as well.