Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry will return to Iowa next week. He’ll campaign in Dubuque on Tuesday evening, then strike out for points south, along the Mississippi River on Wednesday. Governor Vilsack says that shows “this is a Mississippi River election” with states up and down the river hanging in the balance. Vilsack says the Bush/Kerry race in Iowa is so close, it could be decided by a handful of votes. Iowa is considered one of a handfull of toss-up states where the presidential race is close, and that’s why Iowans are getting a close-up view of the candidates. President Bush stopped in Cedar Rapids last week. First Lady Laura Bush was in Iowa earlier this month, as was Vice President Dick Cheney. And once Kerry sets foot in Dubuque next Tuesday, it will be his third stop in Iowa in 30 days.