Grassley not alarmed by Tea Party, Paul supporters' success

Sen. Chuck Grassley isn't alarmed by “what some might call upheavals” in Republican politics in Indiana, Nebraska and Iowa.

He sees the recent victories by Tea Party-backed candidates in GOP Senate primaries in Indiana and Nebraska, as well as the success of Texas U.S. Rep. Ron Paul supporters in Iowa in electing a majority of at-large delegates to the national convention and apparently taking control of party leadership posts, in a different light.

“I would refer to them as people well-organized succeeding in what they organized to succeed at,” Grassley said in a conference call with reporters Wednesday.

Referring to Paul supporters electing 10 of 13 of Iowa's at-large delegates to the Republican National Convention and to seats on the State Central Committee meeting, Grassley recalled the party has gone through similar turnovers as recently as 2008.

“In 1988, when Robertson was so high in Iowa in the straw poll … a big worry then was about social conservatives coming into the party,” he added. Social conservatives have been and continue to be a force in the state GOP.

The Iowa GOP will continue to be a strong party, said Grassley, who will be a national convention delegate.

He's not familiar with State Sen. Deb Fischer, who will face Democratic former Nebraska U.S. Sen. Bob Kerrey. However, Grassley said it appears she will have the backing of social, fiscal and economic conservatives. Although she was largely unknown until the final weeks of the primary campaign, Fischer is considered the favorite to win the general election.

The defeat of Indiana Sen. Richard Lugar by State Treasurer Richard Murdock shows the strength of economic and social conservatives, Grassley said.

“But you also have to look at the fact the senator didn't have a house (in Indiana), didn't even know his address that was on his license, he didn't go home regularly, and, presumably, lost touch,” Grassley said. “Maybe under those circumstances, with a well-organized campaign, almost anyone could have won.”

Unlike two years ago when Tea Party-backed Republicans won nominations in Nevada and Delaware, Grassley has more confidence in the current crop of Tea Party candidates.

In Nevada and Delaware, he said, the Tea Party “picked people who didn't have much of a record of political activity.” In Indiana, Murdock has been elected to statewide office twice.