Post by Logan on Jun 5, 2016 8:52:05 GMT -6
DES MOINES — Republican Senate Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley has been winning Iowa elections for nearly six decades, yet Democrats are sensing vulnerability this time stemming from his refusal to hold confirmation hearings for President Barack Obama’s Supreme Court nominee.
Underscoring the issue, party leaders even recruited a candidate with a fitting name — Patty Judge. The former lieutenant governor swiftly won the endorsement of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee and has built her campaign bank account with an influx of donations, mostly from outside Iowa.
However, just as the progressive candidacy of Bernie Sanders turned the Iowa presidential caucuses into a nail-biter against the establishment favorite Hillary Clinton, Judge is facing a tough nomination battle against more liberal state Sen. Rob Hogg, who is supported by two key labor unions.
Hogg, a 49-year-old from Cedar Rapids who has written a book about climate change, had been considered the likely Democratic nominee before party leaders in Washington turned to Judge. Her experience as a farmer could appeal to rural voters, and her tenure as lieutenant governor and state agriculture secretary give her stronger name recognition across the state.
Read more: www.thonline.com/news/iowa-illinois-wisconsin/article_5ce556d5-97e4-5ed0-b1c4-3edc6a043bf3.html
Underscoring the issue, party leaders even recruited a candidate with a fitting name — Patty Judge. The former lieutenant governor swiftly won the endorsement of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee and has built her campaign bank account with an influx of donations, mostly from outside Iowa.
However, just as the progressive candidacy of Bernie Sanders turned the Iowa presidential caucuses into a nail-biter against the establishment favorite Hillary Clinton, Judge is facing a tough nomination battle against more liberal state Sen. Rob Hogg, who is supported by two key labor unions.
Hogg, a 49-year-old from Cedar Rapids who has written a book about climate change, had been considered the likely Democratic nominee before party leaders in Washington turned to Judge. Her experience as a farmer could appeal to rural voters, and her tenure as lieutenant governor and state agriculture secretary give her stronger name recognition across the state.
Read more: www.thonline.com/news/iowa-illinois-wisconsin/article_5ce556d5-97e4-5ed0-b1c4-3edc6a043bf3.html