Democratic U.S. Senate candidates ready for primary close-up

DES MOINES - Iowa Democrats this week are getting a good look at the four candidates who hope to earn their nomination for this year's U.S. Senate race.

Two forums and a televised debate are on the docket this week as Democratic voters attempt to decide which candidate to support in the June 7 primary, who to put up against longtime Republican U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley.

However, only half of the primary field attended the first of those three events, a forum hosted by the Des Moines South Side Democrats. State Sen. Rob Hogg Rapids and attorney Tom Fiegen attended the event.

Former Lt. Gov. Patty Judge had a previously scheduled campaign event in Waukee, and veterans advocate Bob Krause said he is tending to his ailing father.

Hogg, of Cedar Rapids, was a popular candidate at Tuesday night's forum, which was held at a local union hall and included the three Democrats running in Iowa's 3rd Congressional District.

'I like Mr. Hogg. Pretty solid. I like that he's got a proven track record,” said Ruth Thompson of Des Moines. 'Let me just say, for the record, there's not a loser in the bunch. ... I could feel happy voting for any of them. But I think (Hogg) most closely aligns not only with the things that are important to me, but I think he can win (in the general election).”

Bob Mulqueen, also of Des Moines, said he supports Hogg, who he has worked with on legislative issues.

'I think that he's somebody who's capable of mounting a general election campaign that is capable of beating Sen. Grassley,” he said.

The candidates during Tuesday night's forum fielded questions on sentencing reform, immigration policy, education funding, campaign finance reform and water quality.

Hogg and Fiegen attempted to draw distinctions on water quality. Hogg said as a state legislator he has brought together farmers, business leaders and environmental advocates to work on Iowa's water-quality issues.

Fiegen, of Clarence, criticized the Iowa Legislature, calling it 'worthless on water quality,” and decrying the level of state funding dedicated to water-quality programs.

'There is no leadership (in the Legislature),” Fiegen said, adding he believes farmers who are found to have polluted Iowa's waters should be required to pay for water-quality improvement efforts, not taxpayers.

All four candidates are slated to appear in Thursday's debate, which will be televised live at 7 p.m. on Iowa Public Television.