Hogg, Judge make final pitches in Corridor campaign stops

CEDAR RAPIDS — Two contenders for the Democratic U.S. Senate nomination closed out their campaigns in the Corridor in dramatically different fashion Monday.

About 60 people enjoyed live music, brats, hot dogs and beverages at the IBEW 405 union hall in southwest Cedar Rapids where state Sen. Rob Hogg of Cedar Rapids said he has 'grass-roots enthusiasm' on his side,

He predicted that Iowans 'hungry for new leadership' will give him a win in the Tuesday primary election to determine who will be the Democratic challenger to Republican U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley.

Comparing the primary contest to the NCAA Final Four, Hogg said 'voters get to do something special (Tuesday) — decide who goes to the championship game' against Grassley.

That was in contrast to Patty Judge's low-key 'Standing Up for Iowa' stop in a nearly vacant Linn County Democratic campaign office in a Marion strip mall.

Judge, who also made an appearance at Hamburg Inn in Iowa City, was optimistic, based on a pair of polls showing her leading Hogg — by 17 points in one and 6 percentage points in the other — and former state legislators Tom Fiegen and Bob Krause, the other Democrats on the Tuesday ballot.

Those polls, she said, confirmed her campaign's internal polling.

Hogg conceded Judge's time as state Secretary of Agriculture and lieutenant governor give her more name recognition than him.

'She has more money,' he said. 'I have more people working on my campaign. We've had good audiences across the state, and I think we're closing the gap.'

The polls and what Judge hears from Iowans along the campaign trail give her confidence to look ahead to the general election campaign against Grassley.

'Voters understand he's not doing the things he should for Iowa,' she said. 'He's part of the obstruction. It's time for him to go, and I'm ready to point that out every day.'

Judge believes she can make a compelling case for Grassley's retirement. In addition to worries about the economy and the lack of mental health care, especially in rural Iowa, Judge believes Iowans are frustrated because they believe no one is listening to their concerns.

'They want to know someone hears them,' she said. 'After the campaigns are over, people have to put their politics down and find solutions. Now they feel like that's not being done.'

At the union hall, Hogg touted the breadth and depth of his support, including endorsements from more than 100 current and former lawmakers, the Iowa Federation of Labor and AFSCME Local 61, and the Sierra Club.

Hogg also is looking ahead to the November general election, planning a 99 counties in 99 days 'Whole Hogg' tour of Iowa.

'There's a lot of excitement out there for change,' he said. 'Iowans are hungry for new leaders and want to see Congress work again.'

They also understand that 'if (Grassley) hasn't fixed the problems in his first 42 years in Washington, he's probably not going to fix them in the next six,' Hogg said.

Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday.