Harkin blames Campbell delay on Republicans

The stalled nomination of an Iowan to a federal judgeship is the subject of more finger-pointing and heated debate. Iowa Senator Tom Harkin, a democrat, blames republicans for the continued delay of voting on Bonnie Campbell.Campbell is a former Iowa Attorney General who now runs the U-S Justice Department’s office on Violence Against Women. Her nomination to the U-S Circuit Court of Appeals has the support of Iowa’s other Senator, republican Chuck Grassley. Harkin says Grassley’s backing should ensure Campbell a fair shot at the bench, but it hasn’t worked that way. Harkin says he can’t remember another time when a nominee supported by the Senator from the majority party was not reported out for a vote.Campbell was nominated for the seat in March. She has been criticized for comments made during her failed bid for Governor in 1994 which some characterize as bigoted against Christians.