Rivals not impressed by Judge’s D.C. endorsement

DES MOINES - Patty Judge received the endorsement of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee and the congratulations of her rivals.

That's because it's an 'affront” to voters and 'a reminder of how broken our political system is,” according to Tom Fiegen, a Clarence attorney and one of three others seeking the nomination to be Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley's Democratic challenger.

'I don't think it's much of a surprise and I don't think Iowans will care too much about D.C. endorsements like this,” added State Sen. Rob Hogg of Cedar Rapids.

Judge, Fiegen, Hogg and Bob Krause of Fairfield are competing in the June 7 primary for the Democratic nomination. The winner will face Grassley, who is seeking a seventh term in November.

The endorsement 'shows just how important this race is going to be,” said Sam Roecker of the Judge campaign.

'Patty's a challenger unlike any that Chuck Grassley has ever faced in Iowa,” he said.

In endorsing the former Iowa state senator, ag secretary and lieutenant governor the DSCC called Judge 'a farmer, a nurse, and a terrific public servant who is a proven leader for Iowa's middle class families.”

'Iowans are frustrated that Senate Republicans refuse to do their jobs on the Supreme Court nomination and want a senator that will put their interests first,” DSCC chairman, Sen. Jon Tester of Montana, said.

However, in an election cycle that has seen many voters reject what Fiegen called 'super-PAC insider politics-as-usual,” the endorsement appears to be an attempt 'to deny working Iowans a seat at the table.”

'This endorsement amounts to a small group of wealthy corporate interests informing Iowa voters that Patty Judge will obediently answer to billionaire interests and not the average working Iowan,” Fiegen, also a former state senator, said.

'I wouldn't say it helps me,” Hogg said about the DSCC endorsement, 'but I'm focused on doing politics what I consider the right way (by) traveling across the state and meeting as many Iowans as possible and trying to create a hope that we can change the way we do politics and that we can get Congress to actually work again.”

Roecker promised Judge would run aggressively by 'talking with Iowans about the type of leadership she will provide in the U.S. Senate while highlighting areas where Chuck Grassley has dropped the ball, including his handling of the Supreme Court vacancy.”

Hogg noted that two years ago, then-U. S. Rep. Bruce Braley raised $5 million in his campaign against 'five relatively unknown, long shot” GOP candidates and lost.

'That's proof that money doesn't buy U.S. Senate elections in Iowa,” Hogg said.

According to the most recent campaign finance reports, Judge has raised $213,802 and Hogg $180,115. Fiegen reported $22,106 cash on hand at the end of 2015 and Krause $4,820 in the bank.