In Iowa’s second congressional district, Democrats in Washington have plowed thousands of dollars in last-minute spending behind the candidacy of Dave Loebsack, the Democrat who’s running against long-time Iowa Republican Congressman Jim Leach.
Back on October 27th during a conversation with Iowa reporters, Leach — the Republican — predicted a Democratic tide at the ballot box.”I have no doubt whatsoever that this is a Democratic-leaning year,” Leach told reporters. “The only question is whether it’s an avalanche and that I don’t know. I think you’re going to see some surprises in a number of directions.”
Loebsack rallied fellow Democrats in downtown Iowa City last night. “Am I going to be able to replace that guy who’s got that office right down here to my left?” Loebsack asked the crowd, as it cheered. “I want to be in that office. Does that sound good?”
John Kerry gained 20,000 votes in Johnston County in the 2004 presidential election and Loebsack, a Cornell College political science professor, says he’s counting on that kind of a margin in the Iowa City area to unseat Leach. “By the way, he should take my place at Cornell. He uses a lot of big words,” Loebsack said of Leach. “He’d be really good as a professor at Cornell College.”
Iowa’s second congressional district is in southeast Iowa, starting down in Keokuk and Burlington, and reaching up to encompass Iowa City and Cedar Rapids.