As always, Grassley plans for toughest race of his career

CEDAR RAPIDS - U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley is anticipating the toughest race of his political career as he runs for a seventh term while standing in the center of a political storm over his refusal told hold hearings on President Barack Obama's Supreme Court nominee.

However, the Iowa Republican put that in perspective Friday, saying 'it's no different from what I've done for every race I've had.”

'I've looked at each race as the toughest race I'm every going to have,” Grassley said during an interview Friday afternoon in Cedar Rapids. 'That's the way I'm approaching this one.”

Grassley won't know his challenger until Democrats select a nominee in the June 7 primary. On that ballot are Clarence attorney Tom Fiegen, Sen. Rob Hogg of Cedar Rapids, former Lt. Gov. Patty Judge of Albia and veterans' advocate Bob Krause of Fairfield.

What he already knows, however, is that this race will be different not because of him or his challenger, but because of the presidential race. And it's not just the unconventional campaign - and success - by businessman Donald Trump, Grassley said.

'Whether you're Sanders versus Hillary or 18 Republican candidates for president, all rules are out the window,” said Grassley, who first ran for office in 1958.

That has put a 'big questions mark” on his and other Senate races, Grassley said. 'What about the presidential race? Is Clinton going to be indicted? To what extent will the vice presidential nominee or how Trump handles himself … these are all unanswered questions.”

Despite the uncertainty, Grassley doesn't feel more vulnerable than six years ago when he cruised to a 64-33 percent win over Democrat Roxanne Conlin.

A poll commissioned by Obama White House-aligned groups found his Iowa approval rating had dropped from 60 percent positive and 19 percent negative two years ago to a 42-30 percent split this spring.

The Iowa Poll in March found showed his approval rating at 57 percent - down 7 percentage points from a year ago, but higher than his 10-year low of 54 percent approval in early 2010.

He's not coasting, Grassley insisted.

'I have to consider myself vulnerable on the same basis that I'm going to look at an election being the toughest election I've ever had,” he said.