Harkin Gets it, Vilsack Not So Much

Harkin Gets it, Vilsack Not So Much

The Underrated One, Mike Glover, gets Lieberman-Lamont reacts from Iowa's top two Dems:

Vilsack said Wednesday he doesn't see a broader message from the Democratic Party in the defeat of three-term Sen. Joseph Lieberman in a heated Connecticut primary election.

"I think all politics is pretty local," Vilsack said. "There were multiple reasons why Sen. Lieberman failed to win."

"I don't think it sends a message at all about moderates and conservatives and progressives..."

So the Lieberman loss is... poor casework? Grandma didn't get her Social Security check and Junior didn't get that West Point appointment? Not enough jobs at the Groton Navy Yard? Funny, I don't remember those issues popping up...

Harkin said Democrats can take heart from Lamont's win.

"The election was all about George Bush," Harkin said. "There's a lot of voter anger about George Bush. There's a wave building."

At least Vilsack goes on record endorsing Lamont, which is more than his DLC pal Al From will do:

Leaders of the DLC exercising their rights as individuals will be on both sides of the Connecticut Senate race this fall. DLC Chairman Tom Vilsack, for example, has pledged to support the Democratic nominee. DLC Vice Chair Tom Carper has said he will support Senator Lieberman in November.

In my personal capacity, I will support Joe Lieberman, running as an independent Democrat.

Note that in Connecticut it's illegal for the ballot line for an independent candidate to incorporate the name of a recognized party, so Lieberman cannot run as an "independent Democrat."

Meanwhile the Overrated One is handed a trial balloon to float on the Sectetary of State race:

Former state Rep. Steve Churchill of Johnston is being mentioned as a possible Republican candidate for Iowa secretary of state. GOP insiders say Churchill would be a good candidate because of his ability to raise money...

So he's about the fifth tier choice after Allison, Dopf, Pate and Dix. Here's the punchline, and the reason this has been so quiet all week:

State Rep. Bill Dix of Shell Rock, who lost a GOP primary for Congress, has also been approached about making the run, but party insiders say he wants too much money to be raised for him.

Either that or Dix is hoping/thinking Mike Whalen will lose this fall and he wants to challenge Congressman Braley in 2008 without another loss under his belt.

Better hurry, GOP: only eight days to go...

And the guy with the F NADER plates on his Corvair is back in the news. I'll take a set of Connecticut plates with F JOE, please.