ENDORSEMENT: Grassley remains best choice for Senate

Sending Republican U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley back to Washington every six years has become something of an Iowa tradition. Rarely do his political opponents put much of a dent in his re-election bandwagon. He harvests votes like corn, by the bushel.

But it was Grassley's own actions, or lack of actions, that dented his re-election chances this time around. Within hours of the death of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia in February, Grassley, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, fell into lockstep with Republican plans to deny President Barack Obama the opportunity to appoint Scalia's replacement. They would not even grant Obama's nominee the courtesy of a fair hearing and an up-or-down vote.

Failing to buck this partisan ploy and marshal his committee to do its most important job will remain a stubborn stain on Grassley's record and reputation. And it might have enough for us and Iowans to consider bucking tradition, had Democrats offered this board and the voters a compelling campaign for change.

But Democratic nominee Patty Judge, a former state agriculture secretary and lieutenant governor, has not made that case. Judge, who entered the race late, was backed from the beginning by the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, outside strategists who saw her credentials and name-recognition among Iowans as big advantages in a race against Grassley. Those attributes were enough to win the Democratic nomination.

But what's followed has been a lackluster campaign that's largely failed to stoke enthusiasm among persuadable voters, or disrupt the political status quo in such a way that's necessary to oust a much-admired incumbent senator. That failure pushes us to stick with Grassley, warts and all.

The incumbent earns our endorsement once again.

Despite his maddening Supreme Court stance, Iowans still can be proud of Grassley's long history of service to this state and our nation. Throughout his long tenure, he has been a consistently effective watchdog on behalf of taxpayers and whistleblowers. Grassley's commitment to constituent service is well known. Even after six Senate terms, Grassley's team still sweats the small stuff on behalf of Iowans who need help.

His support for renewable energy, including tax credits for wind energy he first championed, have had a large and important impact on Iowa's economic landscape. Grassley has been a staunch and effective defender of Iowa agriculture, although we call on him to become more forward-thinking on efforts to blunt the environmental effects of farming. While we're appreciative of Grassley's effort to date to gain federal funding for Cedar Rapids flood protection and challeging the Army Corps of Engineers, Grassley needs to channel his tenacity and persistence into finding a way to deliver the promise of federal funding for flood protection.

Grassley's spirited session with out editorial board dismissed any misgivings we might have had about handing a six-year Senate term to an 83-year-old candidate. His energy, enthusiasm and grasp of important issues clearly remain intact. He's up to the job, and Iowans should return him to the Senate.

Also on the ballot alongside Grassley and Judge is independent candidate Michael Luick-Thrams, who raised good points about the need to inject more innovative thinking into our two-party system.

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