Nussle Tussle
With Jim Nussle entertaining visions of more grand things for himself, he's vacating his Iowa 1st congressional district seat to gear up for a run at governor. Look for a good scrap for this senate slot.
The Iowa governor race is shaping up as well, with Dem prospect Chad Culver naming key staff. Other Dems in the running are Rep. Ed Fallon, the only one so far to declare himself a candidate, and Economic Development Director Michael Blouin.
Expected to challenge Nussle in the GOP primary are Doug Gross, who took a pounding when he was defeated as the last GOP candidate in 2002, and Bob Vander Plaats of Sioux City, whom Gross defeated in the primary that year.
Keep your score cards handy for these races.
posted by The Inside Dope @ 2/19/2005
7 comments
7 Comments:
stay with illinois. unless its gopher again from the love boat, illinois rules.
HA!! Yes, I don't intend to cross the ditch very often here. There's enough on this side of the big muddy to deal with.
No, I completely disagree. Illinois is a snore. The first congressional district in Iowa will be one of the nation's number one targeted race! Keep your eye on Nussle's old seat, because one he announces for Governor (and I hope he goes down in flames) the big race for Congress will be on.
Yes, the 1st district in Iowa is going to be the battleground. I hear the guy who cooks the steaks at Johnny's, Tom Whalen or Mike Whalen, might be running as a Republican. He's the guy who is pushing privatization of social security.
Howard Dean will be keeping an eye on this district, since it's a toss up.
Yes, that's Mike Whalen, the founder and head of the huge Heart of America restaurant/hotel conglomerate. (Iowa Machine Shed, Thunder Bay restaurants, among other ventures.) Whalen first gained notice in politics as a staunch booster and supporter of Ross Perot and was active in the party that formed around him.
I have the impression that Whalen is more a Libertarian than Republican.
Though I don't know him personally, I happened to end up attending his wedding reception many years ago, and he struck me as a decent, down to earth guy.
He owned only the orignal Iowa Machine Shed at that time, and has since led the company to tremendous growth.
Please, "INSIDE DOPE," please keep a close eye on the action across the River. Your astute readers and bloggers will appreciate that very much.
As a matter of fact, Mike Whalen is participating in a debate this Friday at St. Ambrose University. The topic is Social Security Reform and whether its needed.
Stay on it, "Dope."
As you seem to be acutely in tune with politics in another state, please feel free to keep me abreast of developments. As with everyone, you're free to contact me via e-mail (click the link in the sidebar to the right) at any time with suggestions, tips, or items you feel are newsworthy.
And if you have any news about hot races in Montana, or Delaware or..., keep me posted. ;-)
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