Harkin may continue to serve up politics — and steak — in retirement

CEDAR RAPIDS - There may be more steak on the menu for Sen. Tom Harkin.

His 37th steak fry in September was supposed to be the final edition of the annual late summer gathering of Democrats.

'It's hard to believe this will be our last steak fry together,” Iowa Democratic Party Chairman Scott Brennan, a former Harkin staffer, said. He spoke for a parade of speakers, concluding with President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who lauded Harkin and lamented the end of a tradition.

It started in 1972 as a fundraiser on a Madison County family farm for Harkin's first - and only unsuccessful - congressional campaign. Tickets were $2, and it attracted 20 people.

This year, more than 6,200 people paid $30 apiece to enjoy a grilled steak and hear Harkin deliver a valedictory address.

At that time, Democrats expected U.S. Rep. Bruce Braley, their candidate to succeed Harkin, to build a similar must-do political event with his annual Bruce, Blues and BBQ event in Waterloo. However, Braley's loss to GOP state Sen. Joni Ernst makes that unlikely.

Now Harkin says the steak fry may live on after he retires from the Senate in January.

'I've been approached,” he said. 'I thought it was going to be the last, but some people have talked to me about continuing it. It has what they call a ‘brand name.' I never thought of it that way.”

Harkin made clear that he hasn't made up his mind.

'I don't know. I don't know yet. I just don't know yet,” he said. 'It's to be determined.”

As party chairman, Brennan would like to see the steak fry continue.

'It is one of those events on the political calendar we all look forward to,” Brennan said Wednesday.

However, he's had no discussions with Harkin about continuing the steak fry. Logistically, he added, it would be a challenge because the steak fry was Harkin's event, not the party's. Much of the work was done by Harkin friends and associates.

'I'd like to see it continue, but I don't know what it would look like,” Brennan said.

Another reason Harkin has been encouraged to keep the steak sizzling is the 2016 first-in-the-nation precinct caucuses.

'People look upon this as a way to get together in the fall of the year” and meet some of the potential caucus contenders, Harkin said. Over the years, he has used the steak fry as a forum for potential nominees to meet with and introduce themselves to Iowa Democratic activists.

In 1991, he used the steak fry to announce his own White House campaign. Bill Clinton was his guest the next year and has logged four appearances - more than any other guest.

Then-Sen. Barack Obama's 2006 speech catapulted him into presidential contention. In 2007, Harkin hosted Obama, Hillary Clinton and others seeking the Democratic nomination. That steak fry drew an estimated 15,000 hungry activists.

Just as he hasn't made a decision on hosting another steak fry, Harkin doesn't know whether he will endorse a candidate in the caucuses.

'To be determined,” he said.