Iowa Democratic U.S. Senate hopefuls make case for nomination

GRINNELL — With Iowa Democrats sensing an opportunity to deny Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley a seventh term, three candidates hoping to replace him made their cases to be Iowa's next U.S. senator.

Democrats believe that the inevitability of Grassley's re-election has disappeared — or at least diminished, according to Charlene Doyle of the Poweshiek County Democrats and one of the organizers of the Democratic debate Thursday in Grinnell.

'It's different now that he's refused to have hearings on the Supreme Court nominee,' she said. 'Even out here in the rural areas, at his town hall meetings, Republicans are standing up and asking him why he's doing that.'

In making their cases, Clarence attorney Tom Fiegen, Sen. Rob Hogg of Cedar Rapids and veterans' advocate Bob Krause of Fairfield sounded similar themes on the minimum wage, college affordability, defending a woman's right to an abortion, opposing fracking and supporting weaning America from fossil fuel.

It was in their approaches to the race and the job of being a U.S. senator where the trio broke ranks.

Fiegen, who grew up on a family farm and in his practice handles farm bankruptcies, said it's necessary to nominate a Democrat with a farm background. The candidate will have to 'out-farmboy Chuck Grassley.'

He also noted that unlike the others, he defeated an 18-year Republican incumbent when he was elected to the Iowa Senate.

'It's much different to win in purple Iowa than in blue Iowa,' he said.

Sticking with election records, Hogg said he's won five straight elections and noted Fiegen and Krause each lost their last election.

He also pointed out that he's raised more money than Krause and Fiegen and has secured the backing of the Iowa Federation of Labor and AFSCME Iowa Council 61.

'We can win,' Hogg said, 'and I give us the best chance to win.'

'Money doesn't always buy elections,' Krause said. 'Look at Jeb Bush.'

'It will be the issues … the cause … the desire to make American better' that will win over voters, according to Krause. Acknowledging that 'big money' will fight the Democratic nominee, he said that success will depend on 'our voices, the people, our attitude, the ability to touch the hearts of the people around us.'

A fourth candidate, former Lt. Gov. Patty Judge of Albia, was unable to participate because of a scheduling conflict, her spokesman said.

Judge concurred with her rivals that Democrats have a real opportunity to defeat Grassley this year.

'Polls are showing him exceedingly vulnerable and he still refuses to do his job and hold hearings or even read the questionnaire for Judge Garland,' campaign manager Sam Roecker said. 'Patty is a candidate unlike any that Chuck Grassley has ever faced before — she has won three statewide races and is building a campaign that will be competitive against him in November.'

The four will debate May 15 from 4 to 6 p.m. at First Christian Church in Des Moines, hosted by the political action committee STAR-PAC. The forum will focus on foreign policy, military and migrant issues.