Reynolds still considering Iowa Senate run in 2014

Don't scratch Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds' name from the Republican list of possible candidates for Iowa's U.S. Senate race in 2014, regardless of what GOP operative Doug Gross might say.

Gross -- a former top aide to Gov. Terry Branstad, party leader and candidate for governor in 2002 – expressed skepticism to a statewide television audience last week that Reynolds, U.S. Rep. Steve King of Kiron or Iowa Agriculture Secretary Bill Northey of Spirit Lake would seek the nomination for the U.S. Senate seat held by Sen. Tom Harkin. The Cumming Democrat has announced he won't seek re-election in 2014.

“Doug Gross makes a lot of predictions. That's just what Doug Gross does. I haven't had a conversation with Doug or told him any of my intentions moving forward,” Reynolds told a Statehouse news conference Monday.

“I'm still talking to people and doing some research,” she added. “My goodness, the deadline's not until March 2014, so we have some time yet to make that decision.”

Reynolds, a former county treasurer and state senator, told reporters that she loves public service and she loves the position she currently has in state government. She added that she believes the Branstad administration has a strong story to tell going forward and “I love telling it in whatever capacity.”

Reynolds said Iowa Republicans are taking steps to make sure the party fields “the very best candidate” who can wage a successful campaign for Iowa's U.S. Senate seat next year.

For their part, Iowa Democrats appear to be settled on 1st District Rep. Bruce Braley, a Waterloo attorney serving his fourth-term, as their choice to seek Harkin's open seat in 2014.