DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The announcement that veteran U.S. Sen. Tom Harkin would not run for re-election came as such a shock that neither his own party nor the Republicans had given any thought to who might succeed him. Harkin and his Republican counterpart, Charles Grassley, have been an Iowa institution in the Senate since the 1980s.
Now, the Republicans hope to use the race to show they can attract Hispanic voters, who are increasing here and throughout the Midwest. Democrats hope to show they can elect a candidate other than Harkin, a household name in the state.
Iowa will be a key battleground in the struggle for control of the Senate in the 2014 election. No candidates have declared for the race, but several, including Democratic Rep. Bruce Braley, are exploring the possibility.
