President’s visit ends up being an issue in Senate race

President George W. Bush stepped into the middle of Iowa’s U-S Senate race during his visit to Iowa today. Republican Congressman Greg Ganske hopes to unseat democrat Senator Tom Harkin in November. Ganske voted against the Farm Bill Harkin helped usher through Congress, his republican President signed it into law, and Bush, during his speech at the World Pork Expo in Des Moines, lauded the Farm Bill for re-establishing government subsidies that’ll provide a “safety net” for farmers. Bush drew applause when he said the Farm Bill was “good for farmers” and “good for the United States of America.”Aides to the President made it clear to Harkin he was not invited to the event, but the Pork Producers reserved Harkin a chair in the front row. Harkin says he’s been invited to every official event and takes pride in having worked on bipartisan measures like the farm bill and money for homeland security.Ganske got to sit up on stage with Bush. The President, though, ended up getting the crowd to applaud for Ganske’s November opponent by mentioning Harkin’s name and thanking him for being there.Harkin aides say it’s likely the President’s praise of Harkin and the Farm Bill will end up in a campaign commercial.