Tom Fiegen launches long shot challenge to Grassley

TIPTON - Promising jobs for everyone who wants to work, health care for everyone who needs it and war on the financial pirates who took the nation's economy hostage, Tom Fiegen has launched a long shot challenge to Iowa's popular five-term Sen. Chuck Grassley.

On a Tipton street corner in front of a half dozen supporters, Fiegen, 50, laid out those three principles of “Fiegenomincs” and promised, if elected, he will be a “U.S. senator from Iowa who is on the same side as working Iowans, not Wall Street.”

Fiegen didn't underestimate the David versus Goliath nature of the campaign against the “savviest Republican politician in Iowa.”

“I am committed to doing all I can to remove him as a roadblock to progress,” Fiegen said.

West Liberty Democrat Dave Bradley takes Fiegen at his word.

“Because of his position as a bankruptcy lawyer, he's always fought for the small businessman and the farmer, Bradley said “He has a unique perspective on what policies do to real people.”

Fiegen expects Grassley, who he repeatedly referred to as “our farmer-senator,” to have as much as $15 million in campaign money while he's hoping to raise “north of $3 million.”

He plans to model his campaign on 2

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District Rep. Dave Loebsack's successful 2006 long shot challenge to Republican Rep. Jim Leach.

“This is going to start as a grass roots campaign and then, as we go, hopefully we can pick up some national attention … people will believe this is a viable campaign,” Fiegen said.

Bradley sees similarities between the Loebsack campaign and Fiegen's and says “absolutely, lightning can strike twice.”

Pointing out that Grassley is getting criticized by the Republican base for his involvement in the current health care reform debate, Fiegen sees a “vulnerability that gives us an opening to talk to the Iowa people, to get our message out.”

Fiegen, who has practiced bankruptcy law in Cedar Rapids for 21 years, said he tried “to protect my family farmers and small business clients from big banks and financial interests.”

“I will bring that experience to the U.S. Senate. I will be a U.S. Senator from Iowa who is on the same side as working Iowans, not Wall Street,” Fiegen said.

Grassley's priorities, he said, are wealthy contributors on Wall Street.

“He voted for all the deregulation that led to the meltdown in 2008,” Fiegen said. “It's interesting to note that he voted for only one bailout, only one, that was the $750 billion ransom the pirates on Wall Street demanded when they took our economy and country hostage.”

A long shot campaign like Fiegen's needs to come at a historical moment, according to Clara Oleson of Springdale, and she believes this is it.

“Iowans are ready to look at their farmer-senator and he leaves them wanting,” she said.

“You're keeping democracy alive, babe,” Oleson told Fiegen as he headed to another announcement at 10 a.m. at 901 Tremont Ave., Davenport. He'll also make stops at 1 p.m. in Green Square Park in Cedar Rapids and at 4 p.m. in front of Iowa Workforce Development building, 430 E. Grand Ave., Des Moines.