Braley on possible U.S. Senate bid: I’ve been overwhelmed with encouragement

[Cha]

Yeah, I've never heard of him, either.. not being from Iowa, but here he is..

The morning after U.S. Sen. Tom Harkin revealed he will retire in two years, the early Democratic front-runner to replace him hinted that he’s interested.

U.S. Rep. Bruce Braley, who Iowa Democrats have said is the favorite for 2014, said in a statement this morning: “Over the past 24 hours, I’ve been overwhelmed by the outpouring of encouragement and support from Iowans in every corner of the state urging me to consider a campaign for the U.S. Senate in 2014. Iowans deserve a senator who will continue Tom Harkin’s legacy of strengthening the middle class and standing up for Iowans who don’t have a voice. While Senator Harkin’s shoes are impossible to fill, over the coming days my family and I will carefully weigh a possible candidacy for Senate.”

Braley has a reputation for being smart, ambitious and ready for higher office, Democratic insiders have said.

http://blogs.desmoinesregister.com/dmr/index.php/2013/01/27/braley-on-possible-u-s-senate-bid-ive-been-overwhelmed-with-encouragement/article?nclick_check=1

[rurallib]

1. Well I am from Iowa

he is not my congressman, but I have met him and he is great! A true worthy successor to a Tom Harkin.

[Cha]

2. Glad somebody appreciates and knows who Bruce Braley

is, rurallib! I thought he sounded interesting and worthy of an early introduction.

[rurallib]

5. here is my post in another forum

I love Bruce - I will never forget the first time I met him

At a DFA meeting - he came in wearing shorts, sandals and a Hawaiian shirt and gave a speech that knocked my socks off.
I'd follow him anywhere.
=====================================================================

Let me add he is one sharp lawyer. I can't remember the department head, but he exposed some Bushco department head for doing politics during business time. I think she subsequently resigned.
Yep, he is a keeper.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I posted this on Bruce in response to 'who may run' question:

It will be a tough fight but right now Bruce Braley would probably

have to be considered the favorite. Bruce is the Democratic rep from district 1 in Iowa.
Republicans basically have 4 people with name recognition across Iowa. One is Grassley. Second is Branstad, the governor. His term is up in 2014 also and he is expected to run again.

One of the other two is Steve King. Yes that Steve King. He is the crazy from Northwest Iowa. He is a tea bagger supreme and his act does not play well in other parts of the state. He also tends to run away from real fights. I don't expect him to run, but he will make noises like he will. If he does he would have a real uphill battle.

The other is Bob VanderPlaats. VanderPlaats makes his living fighting abortion and gays. (literally that is how he makes his money. You may remember the stupid pledge every Repub candidate had to sign on to before the Iowa caucuses? That was his group.) His act is not playing well in Iowa these days. Candidates he backs with his goofy churchy group have a high failure rate. There are pockets of real right wing goofiness in Iowa, but they are mostly in Steve King's district. VP is really tight with Mike Huckabee.

Another outside possibility is Rep. Tom Latham from CD3. But few outside his district know him. His claim to fame is that he was the congressman that backed Bushco to the hilt and his office responds well to requests. His district is somewhat like King's.

If Braley doesn't run, Secretary of Ag Tom Vilsack may come back to run. Yeah, he's a Monsanto guy, but that don't make any difference here. Or perhaps his wife Christy may run. That would be a long shot. We have a couple other state level politicians with good name recognition and approval ratings.

Rumors I have heard is Braley for senate, Tom Vilsack to come back and run for governor again. The DemParty in CD1 is in good shape with several potential replacements for Braley. He won by a huge margin there last time. The Repubs in district 1 are about ready to kill each other.

Does that satisfy your curiosity? If the election were held tomorrow, Braley would be the odds on favorite. But there is 2 years and someone could pop up. Republicans in Iowa are still harping on gay marriage as one of their top issues. It doesn't even poll in the top 15 in Iowa opinion polls. Obama won the state handily.

[Cha]

6. Thank you so much for that insider's account of Bruce Braley, rurallib!

And, the others who might also want to run.

It sounds to me like Senator Harkin announced his retirement now so that "new generation of Democrats" can Get Started "Seeking Higher Office"!

CUMMING, Iowa — Iowa Sen. Tom Harkin says he will not seek re-election in 2014.

The 73-year-old Harkin tells The Associated Press in an interview, "It's just time to step aside," because by the time he would finish a sixth term, he would be 81.

Harkin said it would also allow a new generation of Democrats to seek higher office.

The announcement comes as a surprise, considering he had $2.7 million in his campaign war chest and was planning a fundraiser next month.

Harkin played a lead role in urging the Senate's more liberal members to back the 2010 health care bill.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/01/26/tom-harkin-retiring_n_2557708.html

[rurallib]

8. you are welcome - glad you are interested.

[sheshe2]

16. +1 nt

[exboyfil]

4. He is my Congressman

and he has my backing 100%. His sister-in-law is one of my daughters' teachers in elementary school. The speculation is that Harkin has been grooming him to be his successor. I was hoping he would challenge our other Senator, but he should go for the open seat now. My big question is his replacement in the House. We do have some wackos running around here.

[Cha]

7. Lucky you, exboyfil.. good luck

with Braley's replacement if he does go for the Senate Seat!

[freshwest]

20. +1

[madrchsod]

3. looks like he`d be a winner.

i`d send him a few bucks.

i hope we over here in illinois can find someone as good as him to run for durbin`s seat.

[karynnj]

13. Isn't Durbin likely to run

[madrchsod]

14. nope ...he`s retiring.

[karynnj]

15. I hadn't heard that one - he will be a loss!

[BlueDemKev]

9. Shame we're losing Harkin.

Great, great senator. I remember the thrill I felt when I shook his hand twenty-one years ago when he came to my college campus to speak at a Clinton campaign rally (he had just ended his own presidential campaign and had endorsed Bill Clinton for the Democratic nomination).

Sure hope we'll be able to hold the Senate next year.

[SharonAnn]

10. I was raised in Iowa but now live in TN. Braley is absolutely awesome! I wish he were

my Congressman. Unfortunately, I have John Duncan (R), the second one of the dynasty who is as right-wing as they come.

[Cha]

11. K&R for more peeps from Iowa to see it..

[Cairycat]

12. Some of us have thought of Braley as Senator material from the get-go

Even some Republicans:

(Hearing on Allegations of GSA Misconduct, from 2007, where the Bush admin official gets flustered and calls Braley "Senator" when he was first elected to the House -!) (This happens at about 5:21 in)

Braley has wide support in Eastern Iowa that I think could easily extend statewide. He's the party's best shot at retaining the seat, hands down. As an Iowa woman, yes, I'd love to see a woman in the Iowa Congressional delegation or the governor's mansion. But right now, I'm interested in retaining this Senate seat.

[sheshe2]

17. I would say, from Iowa to Massachusetts

We will be Kicking and Supporting every great candidate that is running for Senate or Congress.

It is our time, everyone. Our place. Let's do it!

Bruce Braley...K&R!

Great find, Cha!

[Cha]

18. Thanks she! :)

Bruce Braley does seem like a person Senator Tom Harkin was talking about when he announced his retirement in two years saying.. "Harkin said it would also allow a new generation of Democrats to seek higher office."

CUMMING, Iowa — Iowa Sen. Tom Harkin says he will not seek re-election in 2014.

The 73-year-old Harkin tells The Associated Press in an interview, "It's just time to step aside," because by the time he would finish a sixth term, he would be 81.

Harkin said it would also allow a new generation of Democrats to seek higher office.

The announcement comes as a surprise, considering he had $2.7 million in his campaign war chest and was planning a fundraiser next month.

Harkin played a lead role in urging the Senate's more liberal members to back the 2010 health care bill.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/01/26/tom-harkin-retiring_n_2557708.html

[Cha]

19. Kicking this because it needs to be seen, imv. :)